Memory is a large part of our life. It’s how we survive in reality. Memory is also one of our most cherished possessions. It seems that most people fear losing their memories more than losing anything else. Memento demonstrates the chaos associated with memory loss and the possible downward spiral we could take if put in the same position as the main character, Leonard.

Memento is told through two intertwined story lines. One story line is shown in black and white and is told in chronological order. The second story line is a series of color sequences shown in reverse order. The two story lines eventually converge at the end of the film. I believe the director did this to display how memories can be distorted. I also believe the director used the two intertwined storylines to demonstrate the main character’s life spiraling out of control.

Memories are complicated things. On one hand, they are cherished, and we would be lost without them. But on the other hand, sometimes our brains block certain memories as a part of self-preservation. We instinctually protect ourselves from memories that we feel we cannot face. This protection does not always last very long though. The truth tends to leak out in small ways through dreams or even just as memories that we cannot control.

Memory is the very heart of this film. Memento is largely about memory and the ways in which it affects and defines identity. We define ourselves through our memories and our life experiences. Our life experiences determine how we react to new experiences and situations. Even though our memory tends to be unreliable, it still holds a crucial role in our experience of the world.

Memory defines us and because of that we cherish it. We use it to remember the successes of the past but also to forget the mistakes of today. Memory is what helps us determine how we experience the world we live in, and due to its unpredictable inaccuracy, we do not always know how we will experience the world. If we lose our memory, we lose ourselves.