A Review of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (screenplay)



Hi everyone! So over the summer I started reading screenplays and I recently discovered the screenplay of the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The story explores love, heartbreak, and how people react to emotional pain. Overall I really enjoyed it but I did have some issues with the story's structure.

First, a summary: Joel is on the brink of breaking up with his long-time girlfriend when he meets a new girl, quirky and outgoing Clementine. They date for a while, fall in love, but eventually break up. Soon after, Joel discovers Clementine has gone through a procedure to have all her memories of Joel erased. Angry and distraught, he elects to have the same procedure done to him. It is difficult to summarize the sequence of events in the story, especially without spoiling it, because it is not chronological. The story itself takes place in a very short amount of time and mostly in one location - Joel's bedroom as he is having the procedure. But the scenes in Joel's bedroom alternate with memories of his time with Clementine, going backwards chronologically (beginning with their breakup and ending with their first meeting).

In the version I read (I'm not sure if it was the final script of the movie or a draft) the ending was a bit abrupt, but the idea behind the story was so relatable that you can't help but keep reading. Everyone who has experienced loss or sadness in their life has at some point wished the experience had simply never happened to them. But this movie poses the question: what good things would you miss out on if you did erase anything connected to your sadness? Would you be better off not remembering someone you loved, even if it ended in heartbreak?

One thing I really like about the story is that, most likely as a result of the subject discussed and the journey the characters go on, the characters are portrayed as very human. The protagonist isn't painted in a false light, where his strengths are displayed prominently but his weaknesses hidden. This may not make every character very likeable, but I personally related to some aspect of almost every character.

While the story was thought-provoking and emotional, the way the script itself was written made it hard at times to enjoy the story. It probably made a lot more sense as a film, but the screenplay does not outright reveal what the flashbacks are, or what order they go in, so while it is quite satisfying and gripping to read the end when the first meeting of Joel and Clementine is shown, trying to figure out along the way when you are in the story distracts you from enjoying it.

In my opinion, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind will resonate emotionally with every reader at least on some level. Even though the subject is serious, the story is entertaining and funny. The simplest way I can describe Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is to say that it is chaotic, but captivating.

Before I sign off, here is the link to the version of the screenplay that I read (disclaimer: it does contain adult language and portray sex, so don't read it if you are uncomfortable with either of those topics): https://stephenfollows.com/resource-docs/scripts/eternal_sunshine_of_the_spotless_mind.pdf.

-Aditi Adve

Comments

  1. Elle_The_MagnificentSeptember 15, 2019 at 6:03 PM

    I found your review quite interesting to read. I remember glancing over to your computer as you were reading it and being extremely confused to what you were reading and how you made sense of it. I enjoyed learning what it was about, and how sometimes reading a screenplay can fall flat. Even through your review I could tell that by reading the story, I would feel something on a personal level, and literature that can touch a person, to me, is the most valuable kind.

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