Memento Presentation

Analysis the narrative structure in the film Memento

Projector- Clip of the opening of Memento

Presenter- This opening sequence confuses us, we ask ourselves why the polaroid is fading. We only realise that it is shot in reverse when the Polaroid sucks the picture back in. This is a series of enigma codes, this also uses the cause and affect model but its twists it, it uses effect and then the cause, some would argue that the film is in a Non Linear Editing Form but the film is very linear but is just in reverse.

 Christopher Nolan said. "It's more linear than most films, if you take one scene out the film it wouldn't make any sense."

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 Presenter-  Causality is mixed up in this film, we identify with Leonard and start to believe him at the start, we believe him because we dont get anyone else's point of view, but our trust is diminished because he makes lies for himself that he wont remember. The film also challenges the audience's expectations , we dont know who is actually there for Leonard, we dont identify with anyone else, and therefore not enough to know what they want. Teddy is the villain  we find out he could have actually been the hero, or the helper.

 

 Narrative time form.

The film confuses us by putting it in reverse, the film raises the enigma code of not only where he is, but when he is, what day and what time.

 

Projector: Final Scene.

Quote “An easy way to analyse the range of narration is to ask who knows what when”

This quote sheds a bit of light into the plot. The film confuses us so this can help us understand the film more. In context with the film, Jimmy brings information that goes against Leonard’s, this brings up a series of enigma codes like “Is his wife dead?” “Why does Leonard think she is?” The narration of this scene gives us an open narrative. We don’t know who to believe, to begin we believe Leonard because we are forced identify with him, but as the film goes on we see him lying to himself, the film lets us draw our own conclusions.