If we are destined to be with someone, will removing the memory of a previous experience with them, prevent it from happening again?

Rating: Null/10 (23 May 2004)

ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
How happy is the blameless vestal's lot! The world forgetting, by the world forgot. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd. -- Alexander Pope, "Eloisa to Abelard"
Teaming the writer of Being John Malkovich, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and Adaptation with the director of music videos (Bjork, Massive Attack), award-winning commercials and feature-film Human Nature should've always seemed like an exciting combination.
Writer Charlie Kaufman has an amazing creative bent that requires skill from a director to successfully bring to the screen. If you've seen Being John Malkovich you'll know what I mean.
What if, following a painful relationship split, you could erase the all memory of your ex-partner? That's the premise behind this creative yet important film which centers around the relationship of Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslett).
Joel's met the woman of his dreams, but apparently (we don't see it early on) it starts to go pear shaped and he discovers she's had him removed from her memory. Unable to deal with this, Joel decides to have the same treatment done. He must gather all items in his house which relate to her in any way, deliver them to the clinic, then doctors go to his home to perform the 'brain damage'. During the operation, one of the young doctors falls for the girl they are removing from Joel's head, and armed with the knowledge of what she likes, starts dating her. During the memory operation however, Joel changes his mind and attempts to mentally evade the brain washing, so he can try to mend his relationship with Celementine.
If we are destined to be with someone, will removing the memory of a previous experience with them, prevent it from happening again? All our life experience has led us to a point where we behave in a certain way. Having the memory of an experience removed is arguably useless as we are predestined to live it. It's a thoroughly fascinating idea from Kaufman delivered in a funny, quirky, poignant and very moving way by the director Michel Gondry.
I'm not known for my love of romantic films, but this film made me realise that anyone who's experienced love will be touched by a romance film, as long as it's packaged the right way. Sleepless in Seattle is not for me. This film definitely is.