Memory

The only thing that would make this movie better is a part 2! So beautifully written and the acting superb. Drew me in deeper and deeper. Totally touches the heart. If you know anyone with memory loss this movie gives hope, hope for humanity as well. I spend many hours watching all different kinds of movies and I wasn't sure if I would like this one. But, I was totally surprised. I loved it. It ended too soon if you ask me and I would love to see where this story can continue. I am happy to use my imagination, but, I would love a part two. I hope the creators read my review and at least think about it. I am not a movie critic and I have never wrote a review before.

It tells a story of Sylvia (Jessica Chastain), a social worker, who, after a high school reunion, is followed home by a stranger. This stranger, Saul (Peter Saarsgard) is really just lost because he has dementia and doesn't remember where he is or how to get home. The two then get to know each other and have an affair. What lies beneath the love affair is trauma, mental health problems, abuse, and addiction. While I appreciated that the film was trying to portray these issues slightly differently than most films, it is extremely slow moving: half way through I almost lost interest as I struggled seeing where it was headed. Only about half way through we get to find out more about Sylvie's past, her drinking since she was in high school, addiction and sexual abuse by her father - which both Sylvie's mother denied and her sister never talked about or never provided support to Sylvie. Jessica Chastain and Peter Saarsgard pull off good performances and they are great together. Ok to watch once, but it doesn't make much emotional impact and is quite forgettable.

This film is almost impossible to talk about without disclosing both characters mental illnesses so if you'd consider that to be a spoiler stop reading now. Memory is a drama that unbeknownst to me was released back in February but from my understanding only had a limited cinema run if at all. It stars Jessica Chastain as Sylvia a social worker who after attending a high school reunion is followed home by Peter Sarsgaard's Saul. Saul is suffering from Dementia and as is unfortunately the case with a lot of dementia sufferers he's become a burden to his brother who he lives with. His brother leads a busy work life and whilst she is initially hesitant Sylvia eventually agrees to look after Saul when she's not working her other job. What I felt this film did a great job of getting across is how in the midst of the hustle and bustle of life when a family member has such an illness like dementia where they require care it's easy for the sufferer to start to feel less human. This film shows Saul and his struggles but it also shows that he's still a human being who still has the cognitive ability to form relationships and be of use, he just requires extra care from time to time. Sylvia on the other hand is a recovering alcoholic, the film explores the reason she started drinking but that would be going into spoiler territory. I will say though that although she's been sober for a long time she is still haunted by the events that unfolded in her past that lead her to start drinking. The film whilst undoubtedly bleak in tone which is to be expected given the subject matter never has any images that are there purely to shock. Instead it's a very real take on how two people with their own individual struggles can find comfort in eachother. I appreciated the films unique look at dementia and whilst it's certainly one you have to be in the right mindset for its worth watching if you get the chance.

If convincing performances are what you look for in a movie, you won't be disappointed. If you want a plausible story, look elsewhere. Jessica Chastain, Peter Sarsgaard, and secondary actors are believable In their respective roles. Each succeeded in convincing me they were "real," with real issues and real interactions. Oh but convincing performances were not the only thing I was looking for in this movie. I wanted the slice of life experience of two lovers struggling with the dementia of one of them. I feel cheated having paid $5.99 (plus tax) to watch two people meeting in such a far-fetched way and developing a relationship while one of them doesn't have the capacity. He can't remember recent events and conversations, much less dig deep into his heart to bring forth emotional and intellectual commitment. The story would be acceptable with characters that have a history together. Instead, the movie expects us to suspend belief to the point of saying to ourselves, "yeah, right."

Whilst the subject matter here is quite interesting, the execution isn't especially. "Sylvia" (Jessica Chastain) is working in the social care system whilst bringing up her daughter "Anna" (Brooke Taylor). Her life, as effectively illustrated by her door locking and burglar alarm routine each day, is a structured affair with little variation. She has a strong relationship with her sister but is completely estranged from her mother. The two women attend a school reunion one night and, leaving early, she is followed home. It's a miserable night and next morning she discovers him asleep outside her door. Inspecting his wallet, she discovers his identity and calls his brother "Isaac" (Josh Charles) who explains that "Saul" (Peter Sarsgaard) has memory issues. Was he stalking her or is there more to this rather meandering scenario? Chastain does work quite well, but I found the story seemed to randomly inject way too many "incidents" along the way that seemed designed to enliven or empower the plot. Many seemed a little too disaster-scenario prone and are used to enhance purely for dramatic purposes. The culminating scenes lacked plausibility and at times the whole thing came across as little better than an A-list soap opera. Coincidence underpins just a bit too much of the film and the delivery of information about the characters to the audience is all delivered in just too sporadically a fashion. I felt sorry for just about everyone involved, but I didn't feel particularly engaged.

What is a film? To me it's an experience that you view through your own experiences. Life's not easy. Not perfect. Many times it's hard. Things happen to you that you didn't deserve and it leaves scars in your heart and emotions. This film is about that very thing. Damaged people. Like all of us in our own way. Damaged trying to get thru this world with less pain. This is why I love this movie. It's just a subtle, raw view into pain and trauma and the little glimpses of hope. Of peace. Of love. It's hard for a lot of people out there. So if you want to see an artistic film about this subject with no score, no gimmicks and some of the most vulnerable acting I've seen. This is for you. One trigger warning: if you've dealt with sexual assault on any level this may be hard to watch.

In dour dirge NY drama "Memory" relentlessly joyless recovering alcoholic / sexual abuse survivor Jessica Chastain (single mum to poor teen Brooke Timber) strikes up a bizarrely toned romance with chronic dementia sufferer Peter Sarsgaard, to which the normal functioning adults around them (like Sarsgaard's brother Josh Charles) understandably react with concern (especially after a couple of disturbing incidents). Quite what writer / director Michel Franco intended with this miserable tripe is unclear, but what he produces is a depressingly downbeat ghoul of a film (albeit with the technically decent performances to be expected from the principals). It's an awful turd. Flush it.

It was boring all the way. I wanted to connect with the main characters but couldn't care much. The main reason was that sylvia accused the wrong guy of raping her multiple times. How can that happen? Shortly after she becomes his caretaker. Even more strange and illogical. Later we find out she got sexually abused by her father. Also very unnatural conversation that happend, especially with the sister - just weird. It was boring all the way. I wanted to connect with the main characters but couldn't care much. The main reason was that sylvia accused the wrong guy of raping her multiple times. How can that happen? Shortly after she becomes his caretaker. Even more strange and illogical. Later we find out she got sexually abused by her father. Also very unnatural conversation that happend, especially with the sister - just weird.

Sylvia is a social worker who leads a simple and structured life. This is blown open when Saul follows her home from their high school reunion. Their surprise encounter will profoundly impact both of them as they open the door to the past. The roles are played admirably by all of the main actors and with little prompt or background or character development, we slowly get to understand the main players and what drives them. Sylvia is affected deeply by past memories that people try to convince her are untrue and that she is a liar and a bad person. Saul cannot remember much at all as he has dementia. Polar opposites and yet attracted to one another leaning on each others strengths, whilst supporting each others weaknesses. It's a little insight into dealing with people with dementia, and a glimpse of how people with a traumatic background can suffer right through life. It's the friends and family who have to stand by them in times of stress. It's a very quiet film with little meaningful dialogue, and some scenes where you have to fill in the blanks for yourself so if you're not getting what the film is about, you'll probably dislike it intensely. If you do understand the work, family and personal dynamics you'll probably stick with it and love it by the end despite it being a hard watch. I do believe Jessica Chastain can take any role, any role at all and turn it into something beautiful. Main drawback: big chunks of dialogue are muttered so you don't hear what's aid. Watch this film with subtitles or you miss nuances.

Memory is my favorite of Michel Franco's directed films and honestly my favorite movie of 2023 overall. It gets everything right about the nuances of dealing with people who have had trauma in their past (Jessica Chastain) and trauma in their current life (Peter Sarsgaard) that keeps them from being the complete people they want to be. To say trauma might be an understatement for what these characters have been though, and together they might actually be the only ones who are able to heal each other. The story is full of twists and surprises and i really did not know what to expect next, I rarely say this but don't read spoilers on this one as its quite good with all the reveals. Though it has a short 1 hour and 40 minute running lime, it is a perfect length and never drags; it feels truly lived in and real. All the cinematography is invisible and the settings they use to create the atmosphere and climates of the characters are perfect to match. Supporting cast is perfect, everyone gives 'just enough to make it a true ensemble: Merrit Wever is perfectly cast as Sylvia's sister, who always supports her despite her strange (to most people around her) behavior; her mother played by Jessica Harper is the exact opposite. Brooke Timber as the daughter Anna has a more subtle role to play, slowly realizing the depth of her mother's trauma. Where so many other movies of the year try to have this kind of out-there style, excess running times, and flashy storytelling and sublime meaning, Franco makes a movie that tells a simple story and gives us all hope for humanity. It is a reminder that sometimes all you need is a well told, well-acted, well directed movie to make the biggest emotional impact.