Claim: Jim Carrey has worked with people.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2004 American romantic science fiction comedy-drama film written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Michel Gondry . It follows an estranged couple who have erased each other from their memories . Pierre Bismuth created the story with Kaufman and Gondry . The ensemble cast includes Jim Carrey , Kate Winslet , Kirsten Dunst , Mark Ruffalo , Elijah Wood and Tom Wilkinson . The title of the film is a quotation from Eloisa to Abelard by Alexander Pope .   The film uses elements of the psychological thriller and a nonlinear narrative to explore the nature of memory and romantic love . It opened in North America to wide acclaim on March 19 , 2004 , and grossed over $ 70 million worldwide . It won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay , and Winslet received a nomination for Academy Award for Best Actress . The film developed a cult following in the years after its release , and is now regarded by many critics as one of the greatest films of the 21st century .