Memory Review
Soulful, complex and wonderfully acted, Memory is a memorable watch for sure.
Sylvia (Jessica Chastain), someone who is stuck in the strong memories of the traumas that have befallen her through the years, is concerned when she is followed by Saul (Peter Sarsgaard) after a party. Investigating more, she finds out that Saul suffers from early onset dementia and gets disoriented easily. After an initially confrontational meeting, Sylvia is offered a second job to care for Saul during the day, and in doing so they bond. As they begin to find a romantic spark between them, their interactions are impacted by their respective families and by the encroaching illness of Saul.
Memory is a meditative and contemplative film in its entirety. It plays with the concept of memory throughout, and in doing so we as the audience find ourselves thrown from pillar to post a little, sitting in the mis-rememberings and untruths of these characters and believing them until the rug is pulled out from under them and us.
Visually, this is a sparse affair. Whether its the unobtrusive wardrobe, the authentic feeling set dressing, or the colouring itself, the film oozes minimalism. There’s an almost Scandi feel to the freezing and colorless NYC setting, that gives this the vibe of a European film. The pacing is also leaning into that vibe, with director Michel Franco leaning heavily into the slow pacing of those types of movies. We’re given a lot of time to ‘sit with’ this movie, and if you like that sort of experience then this is the sort of film that will resonate with you.
The performances and the dialogue are the most towering achievement of this film though. Both Skarsgaard and Chastain are on pitch perfect form here, and they are tremendous together. The nuances in their performances are wonderful, and you can just sit there and bask in their micro-expressions throughout. The dialogue, too, leaves a lot for the audience for interpret, and feels as lived in and authentic as the settings and costumes.
Ultimately, Memory is the sort of movie that will resonate with you if you are a fan of meditative, introspective films that showcase wonderful performances that feel like real people in a real story, despite the fantastical elements on display.
