Eternal Sunshine Essay Example

movie provided initial hints through the train scene where Joel and Clementine first meet and their ongoing conversation patterns throughout the movie. While Clementine's question, "Do I know you?" may not seem like an obvious clue to their relationship, it sets up the storyline that the audience follows through to the end.

The central theme of the movie is the relationship between the characters before and after their memories were wiped, making it a key question throughout. As Clementine and the other character introduce themselves, Clementine mentions a song called "Huckleberry Huns" that relates to her name. In a poignant moment towards the end of the movie, as their memories fade away, they sing this song again. These narrative elements serve to connect the beginning and end of the film, reminding the audience of the joyful moments the couple shared together.

Even though their memories of each other were erased, destiny or a hidden bond led to their reunion. The story's ending is uncertain as it's unknown whether they will start a relationship or go separate ways after deciding to "wait" for each other. According to IMDb, Charlie Kaufman, the writer, had suggested various processes for Clementine at Lacuna. Ultimately, we can only imagine what lies ahead.

The utilization of an open ending in the film motivates viewers to utilize their creativity and search for indications within it. An essential element of mise-en-scene is the costumes, particularly the colors utilized. The attires highlight Joel and Clementine's contrasting personalities. From the outset, Clementine dons vivid clothing with brightly colored hair while Joel prefers darker garments and a hat.

The use of bright colors in Clementine's appearance represents her

carefree, open, and wild personality, while dark colors reflect Joel's quiet, reserved, and shy nature. These colors not only depict their personality traits but also signify their development throughout the movie. In the final scene, Joel's sweater displays orange and white stripes, which symbolize his transition towards happiness, inspired by Clementine's hair color. Additionally, the manipulation of lighting during Joel's encounter with Dr. Mierzwiak in the office is another aspect of mise-en-scene.

The director opted for a subdued flashlight technique in a dimly-lit space, which, despite occupying the entire screen, draws attention primarily to Joel. This highlights his bewildered, anxious, and sorrowful emotions, as well as his fear of losing Clementine and his memories. In a separate scene featuring Clementine and Joel visiting the "frozen Charles," the producers employed direct lighting to prevent any shadows. Consequently, the resulting atmosphere is one of heavenly warmth and joy.

Contrary to the first scene, in which there was abundant lighting, the second scene featuring Clementine and Patrick had minimal lighting that hindered the audience's ability to see the actors. Despite being at the same location, the second scene created an atmosphere of sadness, loneliness, and alienation that aligned with Clementine's emotions. The lighting technique used in the scene where Joel watched Clementine kiss Patrick at Barnes and Nobles amplified his confusion and frustration. As Joel left the store, the lighting dramatically turned off from the far end, further emphasizing his emotions.

The shutting down of Joel's emotional door by Clementine is mirrored by the darkening of the scene and Joel's own deep shadows. This lighting effect enhances the audience's understanding of Joel's heartbreak, which is already apparent through his

expressions and the situation. Additionally, the cameraman utilizes racking focus to further convey Joel's anxiety.

Joel experiences anxiety and uneasiness as he receives a packet from Lacuna, the memory erasing clinic, which includes a sleeping pill and pajamas to prepare for the operation. His neighbor, Frank, attempts to converse with him, but Joel struggles to concentrate due to his emotional state. This is captured through the use of racking focus in the film, with the cameraman switching focus between Frank, who is shot distinctly visible, and Joel, who appears fuzzy in the background. In a close-up shot of Joel, with Frank vaguely visible in the background, it becomes clear that Joel is unable to focus on the conversation due to his fear and concern surrounding the upcoming procedure.

The camera work in the movie created an illusion when Joel and Clementine revisit Joel's childhood memory, as they both maintain their facial and body features but appear smaller in size. The creators employed two techniques to achieve this effect - resizing some of the set to shrink the characters, and manipulating camera angles. For instance, when shooting Joel hiding under the table, the camera work always came from top or low angles, such that he was never seen alongside other characters’ whole bodies. Similarly, Clementine's legs or face were the only parts of her that appeared with Joel.

Through filming from a distance and certain angles, the producers were able to make one character appear smaller while keeping the others true to real life size, resulting in the creation of a whole new environment. The film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind commences in medias res

with an unexpected conclusion, and evokes strong emotions with its use of lighting and color. The camera techniques used offer a unique perspective on the characters' past experiences, allowing the audience to experience more than just the acting alone could provide.

Through a variety of techniques, this movie achieves the stunning depiction of the intricate and unusual world. Its ultimate success lies in capturing the true essence of a broken-hearted individual's mind. The use of actors transforms our thoughts into a visual form, allowing us to witness our own mind's inner workings. In this manner, we gain greater understanding of the significance of life and love- that we must never forget our true nature.