Memory

Memory

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.

  • Released:
  • Runtime: 100 minutes
  • Genre: Drama
  • Stars: Peter Sarsgaard, Jessica Chastain, Josh Charles, Merritt Wever, Elsie Fisher, Jessica Harper, Blake Baumgartner, Rand Faris, Davis Duffield, Brooke Timber, Elizabeth Loyacano, Billy Griffith, Ross Brodar, Thomas Vorsteg, Tatiana Ronderos, Jett Salazar, Alexis Rae Forlenza
  • Director: Michel Franco
 Comments
  • TomTalksFilms - 19 June 2024
    How did you get here? I think she helped me.
    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.
  • dweston-38669 - 3 March 2024
    Brilliantly acted, tender love story.
    Spanish writer/director Michel Franco is a talented filmmakers whose two previous films Sundown and New Order were totally different to each other but showed a range of depth that isn't noticed much in movies nowadays. One film was humane and a 'different' side to a love story and the other was inhumane and about society collapsing with violence. New Order was a very scary film.

    His latest Memory, is more the former. And like Tim Roth in Sundown, Franco gets magical performances from Peter Sarsgaard and Jessica Chastain.

    I liked how Chastain's character felt comfortable with the character Saul because he was unable to either control or dominate her-something that she is escaping from.

    One could argue about the theme of 'consent' and I think this is a question the film raises- can Saul consent to a sexual relationship with his caregiver even though he was dementia or is Sylvia's characters too emotionally scarred to either care or acknowledge?

    Either way this is an original love story with two great performances, that I'll be remembering for a while to come.