Movie Review of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"

Have you ever gone through a bad breakup? Maybe you were expecting it, maybe not. Regardless we can all agree that breakups can be a tender subject most wish to forget. In the 2004 film, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, starring Jim Carey and Kate Winslet, it explores the practicality and emotional repercussions of forgetting bad memories. Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) starts his day normally; wake up, get dressed, board the train for work. What he doesn’t expect though is a quite peculiar woman sitting in the back of the bus, Clementine (Kate Winslet). What happens next can only be described as a whirlwind romance; ditching work and exploring the town, each revelling in the other's company. Months later after a heart-crushing breakup, Joel discovers that Clementine has decided to undergo a procedure that would remove any memory of him from her mind. In a fit of rage Joel decides to get the same procedure. The film follows Joel as he undergoes the procedure, simultaneously remembering his time with ‘Clem’ and immediately erasing it. Joel battles with himself; wanting to forget Clementine but also still feeling connected to the old memories of her. It is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys movies that leave you pondering their meaning. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind beautifully depicts the complexity of a broken heart, the duality of bad memories, and is a severely underrated piece of art.