Profoundly creative, emotional, and authentic

Rating: 10/10 (26 March 2019)

"Eternal Sunshine" is one of the most creative and unique films I have ever had the pleasure of viewing.
The underlying theme of the story revolves around abstract concepts, such as memory and fate, and is thus difficult to capture. The idea is twofold: that without memories of our past experiences, we are destined to repeat the same mistakes in the future. However, continuing to attach negative emotions to those experiences can rob us of finding new joy.
The erasing procedure, according to the doctor, targets emotional areas of the brain. Despite the perception of the true effects, the memories are not erased entirely...only the emotion, which is the most important part. This explains why even after Joel and Clementine's individual procedures, fragments of the other still remain, allowing them to meet again and experience their love for each other anew.
Anytime a subject such as human consciousness is tackled, it is not going to be easy to depict coherently. But somehow it works here...and brilliantly.
Charlie Kaufman's screenplay is phenomenal and is influenced by his real life experiences. He chooses to portray love as anything but a walk in the park (as he felt most hollywood romances were). The relationship between Joel and Clementine is intensely authentic and relatable to anyone who has experienced the messiness of intimate relationship (romantic or not). The good times are shown as well as the bad, and neither of them are required to earn the others love. Ultimately, it is their mistakes that continuously bring them back together. One of Clementine's final lines is fitting: "I'm not perfect." And if the love is real, she shouldn't have to be. This lets us plant ourselves firmly in the characters' shoes to empathize with at least part of what they are experiencing.
The film is edited perfectly in a way that leaves the audience wrestling with what the true nature of memory is and how that affects them. By showing us the relationship in reverse chronological order and bookending with a new beginning, we are elated and heartbroken at the same time. Along with the couple, we too get to witness the nostalgia of their best times together. And yet, while this is fresh in our mind, we know how the story will end again and the cycle will keep repeating because they are physically unable to learn from their mistakes.
So is holding on to memory good or bad?
I think the answer is both. There is a balance in remembering mistakes from the past to prevent repeating them, while at the same time keeping the mind selectively "spotless" to preserve novelty and experience life in the fullness of the present moment.
While we don't get to see our beloved characters find this balance, it is a lesson that we can learn from and apply to our own life experiences.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a profound work of art. It is wildly creative and technically impressive, and at the end of the day comes together to effectively inspire deep introspection of complex facets of life.