Narrative Continuity and Rupture in "Memento"

Paper Summary:

A discussion of the non-linear film "Memento" in terms of narrative continuity and rupture. It looks at film technques and the thematic effect of the films unconventional narrative. The paper explores the film noir elements used and philosophical and psychological issues in terms of the films structure and themes.

From the Paper:

"Christopher Nolan's Memento, described as a neo-noir revenge film uses a rather unconventional non-linear narrative structure to achieve thematic effect. Protagonist Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) suffers from a memory problem, limiting his short term memories to only a few minutes; the narrative structure attempts to put us within Leonard's world by creating a reverse chronological order of events, starting with the killing of Teddy, and moving backwards from there. There are also, in contrast the chronological black and white scenes. Through the "rupture" of the narrative into a series of non-chronological scenes, making meaning and continuity rests on the readers fabula - "the viewer's or reader's mental reconstruction of the narrative's nonchronological arrangement of events into chronological order" . Memento in this sense "demands constant attention from its spectators." , with the movie hinging on the viewer's ability to make continuity from rupture. This narrative structure works to great thematic effect, emphasising the conventional noir elements, mirroring the alienation and disorientation of Leonard, and exploring philosophical and psychoanalytical themes."

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