This month, Verve’s star reviewer LUCY KENNEDY heads down Memory lane.
MEMORY
Written and directed by Michel Franco
2023 – rated R (US) – in theatres now!
Saul’s memories are fractured, unreliable, and lost. Sylvia’s are ever-present, haunting, and far too persistent. These two broken, struggling people form an unlikely bond in Michel Franco’s gut-wrenching film, Memory. Sylvia (Jessica Chastain) is a single mother, recovering alcoholic, and social worker. Her relationship to her memories is one fraught with trauma and strife, to the extent where we the audience question the reliability of our protagonist. Saul’s (Peter Sarsgaard) early onset dementia has essentially stripped him of his privacy, independence, and, to an extent, his identity. When Sylvia is offered a position to care for Saul, the two begin to heal together in Franco’s cinematic world of pale winter light, tableau-esque compositions, and quiet domestic spaces that reflect the thoughtfulness of the film.
The incredibly successful portrayal of these characters by Chastain and Sarsgaard present deeply complex characters that don’t fall flat – they truly feel like real people, grappling with significant and intense issues. The film feels similar to a psychological thriller at times, with its emphasis on the instability of its main characters and the inherent uncertainty that accompanies memory. However, this film is a drama that will raise questions about the importance of memory and its distortion, how it shapes us as people, and how it informs our perception of life. Memory presents an examination of a connection between two people and the healing nature of human connection. By the time the credits roll, you’ll be aching to give Saul a hug.
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