There is an abundance of modern romantic dramas, but most of them could be set in any given time period. Eternal Sunshine is unique for being the type of romantic movie that could only have been made in the 21st century given the way technology plays a central role in the narrative. The plot centers around shy Joel (Jim Carrey) and outgoing Clementine ( Kate Winslet) and their disintegrating/developing relationship as they try to use a specialized service to erase their memories of each other.
This allows screenwriter Charlie Kaufman to take a nonlinear approach to the development of the protagonist's relationship. In one scene you may be watching them experience a memory of deep connection and in the next you may see something silly. Watching Eternal Sunshine unfold in this fashion feels like scrolling through a person's Facebook Profile after they've broken up with someone. You get to experience the full of range of emotions, from jubilant beginnings to bitter breakups, in these clipped little segments.
Normally something like that would feel cold and impersonal. It's a testament to the warmth and chemistry of Carrey and Winslet's acting together that you really begin to feel for their characters. Joel is a quiet, slightly lonely guy who wanders around, taking everything in and documenting it in his notebook.
He's the perfect main character for this type of movie because he allows the viewer to portray their feelings of confusion with the disorienting story structure onto him. After all, he spends the majority of the film trying to piece his memories of childhood, day to day adult existence and life with Clementine together only to watch them slip away from him.
Clementine, on the other hand, is never comfortable staying in one place or emotional state for extended periods of time. This is visually represented in her ever changing hair color, which is a clever way for the filmmaker (Michel Gondry) to remind you what point in time the scene you're watching is taking place. Clementine is also a deconstruction of the cliche' manic pixie dream girl trope that is found in many romantic comedies.
You've surely seen this character before. She's the zany, too good to be true love interest that comes along to rescue the sensitive male lead from his malaise. Think Natalie Portman in Garden State or Kirsten Dunst in Elizabethtown. Clementine is refreshingly sincere and open about her many faults and is never used by the screenwriter as a prop to advance Joel's story. Like in any relationship, the two play off of one another as both of their stories intertwine.
What truly sets Eternal Sunshine apart from every other movie in the romantic drama category is its subversion of the happily ever after endings we're so used to. Joel and Clementine spend the narrative erasing each other only to meet up again after the whole process is over, getting to start anew. On the not so happy side, they also learn they have erased their relationship in the past.
They take the knowledge that their past relationship didn't work and decide to continue anyway, giving the film a sense of curious melancholy. In this way you get to see Joel and Clementine's full story, while also wondering if they will repeat that same story. It's not traditionally happily ever after, but it is oddly nice to know that their love will continue to grow, decay and repeat for the rest of their lives.
What are your favorite romantic movies?
