Eternal Sunshine: The Secret Symbolism of Clementine's Hair
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ธ.ค. 2018
- Get a full month of MUBI FOR FREE: mubi.com/screenprism (With the support of Creative Europe - MEDIA Programme of the European Union) | To understand Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet), look at the ever-changing hair color of Clementine. Watch our take on what the movie is telling us through the secret symbolism of her locks. Support ScreenPrism on Patreon: www.patreon.com/user?u=7792695
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Excellent take from The Take. Thank you.
We are in a Reincarnation loop... (similar to this movie)
Please visit Forever Conscious Research channel to learn more...
I've always wondered what Clementine was going through while Joel was being erased from her memories.
I would guess it was something similar. She ended up on the train to Montauk for a reason.
Avoiding patrick of course
Omg why have I never really wondered that. It crossed my mind a bit but now that I think of it like... woah. A whole other movie.
@@Martel4 that would have been such an interesting idea, the next movie being the same story from the opposite perspective
Well keep in mind about what kind decisions she took, she was a very precipitated girl, so she might have decided that in that anxious moment of precipitation
Maybe I’m cynical, but this is the only love story I genuinely enjoyed watching.
have you seen Meet Joe Black? it’s similar to this in the way that it’s a very complex love story, brilliantly written with great actors, you might like it if you like this so i thought i’d mention it
i cried watching Wall E
The movie “her” is so beautiful honestly. It’s really symbolic in a way that hurts but is comforting at the same time
Yuri 500 days of summer is also really good when it comes to “realistic” love stories
Watch "Almost Famous". Love is not the main theme, but as it is portrayed, it's very beautiful
I think this is a very underrated performance by Kate
We all knew she could act. I think this is a really underrated performance by Jim Carrey.
I know right! I am so in love with her acting.
I angree, @@mbanerjee5889 , He is a gem and we need to appreciate him so much more!
@@mbanerjee5889 she got an Oscar lmao
Jim Carrey is the underrated one in this movie. His performance blows me away everytime. It doesn't even feel like it's him he's playing such a different role for him and so convincingly.
2005- my then boyfriend broke up with me.
He watched this movie two days later while visiting family and called me 5 minutes after the end credits rolled.
We’ve been together for 16 years now and married for almost 9.
There is real power in this story.
to accept each other's imperfections and endure the hardships of your life, salute ma'am
How did you two meet in the first place?
.
this made me cry this is so beautiful
Wow. I love that.
@STIIIZY are you serious lol
This movie has really changed for me with age and experience.
When I was much younger, I thought this whole movie meant they were doomed to repeat their mistakes and they could fix everything if they still remembered.
Now I'm older and have had more relationship experience, I realized it's about forgiveness and accepting all of someone instead of trying to make someone into the perfect person for you. Not bringing up old fights because the present with that person is more important than remembering the past.
:)
Or its about both.
I've always kind of thought it was about both.
BooksByMarbles it is both and anything else you believe it is.
Thank you for helping me remember that the present is more valuable than old fights💙❤💙
Brilliant breakdown of my all-time favorite romance movie. The movie is ALL about DE-romanticizing someone and accepting them for who they are, not what you wish them to be. And also being real with YOURSELF in that relationship. But you are much more eloquent and incisive with it. Thank you.
Well said!
Exactly!
I loved the fact that whenever Patrick tried to copy joel and says exact same words as him clem gets more annoyed or Patrick is not able to complete the sentence.
Exactly. Because it was more than words. It always is.
This movie is so raw and REAL. This is what so many people go through. Relationships continue to be romanticized by the media and it brainwashes so many of us into having these super unrealistic expectations for our partners and ourselves. We need many more “romance” movies like this one. Thank you!
Blue Valentine
!!!
I have always adored "Eternal Sunshine", as it offers a deconstruction of the "Manic Pixie Dream Girl" trope, much like Summer from "500 Days of Summer". Clementine is shown to have her own demons outside of Joel, she isn't just some unconventional, free spirit who merely exists to brighten up his stuffy worldview, but just a troubled individual "looking for her own piece of mind". Part of the movie is Joel's journey to see her beyond her wackiness, and accepting her for who she really was.
The symbolism behind Clem's vibrant hair colour is indeed profound once you really consider it, and I didn't catch on to it acting as a mood counter in correspondence to Joel and Clem's floundering relationship. I additionally admire how the movie ends on a hopeful note, as although they both acknowledge that they might end up back where they started if they resume their relationship, they both seem willing to combat this fear and to move on.😊
You known, I find ironic the expression "Not everything is rainbow and shunshine", a sentence usually to express that not everything is good at it appears or seems. The movie's title could be a delusion of everything fine and dandy. The same could be applied to relationships, at first, everything is cool and lovey; but then when times passes, the crackes are starting to show. This could be applied to Joe's POV, specially, since he believed Clementine to be that light to bring color to his life.
They both have to deal with or at least face up to their own flaws and that's awesome. She has to understand that sensation seeking and impulsivity isn't going to grant her that peace she claims to want so badly. She doesn't seem to actually want it unconsciously because lol peace is going to be uncomfortable and counter intuitive so it's a bit of a mismatch between what she says she wants and what she actively seeks. She hasn't come to terms with that part of herself yet I guess. I could relate to Joel but been there, done that so it's nice to see a critique of the MP type. She has work to do too and also being about to relate to her struggle as well has Jim's character was nice. I could see the self sabotaging behavior in her and myself lol but yeah relationships aren't all about passion but communication,compatibility, patience and work (together and separately or idk, individually) BUT acceptance has to be the strongest point cause even if someone utilizes all the self help or legit treatment (not that self help/care/meditation doesn't work) it's STILL gonna take a lot of time, fumbling, stalling, falling off and general frustration along the way lol even when you see improvement, as the analysis pointed out, things move in cycles and I figure growth is different to change.
I've always been that girl in relationships. Once I found someone who didn't expect anything from me, I mellowed out and now we have a family together-- probably something none of my other partners could have imagined because they needed me to be so wild and "free"
Aurelia oh, deconstruction for sure. she has flaws; she’s unnervingly impulsive, reckless, and has severe anger issues. initially, he sees her as this ‘new beginning’ for him and eventually learns that she’s just a person. arguably the best line of hers is, “too many guys think i’m a concept, or i complete them, or i’m gonna make them alive. but i’m just a fucked-up girl looking for my own peace of mind. don’t assign me yours.” definitely not a manic pixie in my eyes.
@Antifa Turkeesian i agree that its a deconstruction of it. Clementine (and Summer, as OP mentions) are complex characters who are not oblivious to the fact that they can be seen that way and actively try to make it clear that they are not there to fulfill a void in a man's life, or be some idea of a person. They are flawed, selfish characters that are beautifully written. Exact opposite of the manic pixie dream girl trope.
“Meet Me In Montauk”
Username 1991 ?
Chill Leveltv project montauk
@Kevin Truby second to last track ❤
One of my all-time favorite movie quotes ever. In fact, when I was in New York City, I once took the train out across Long Island to Montauk for the day specifically because of this movie... a personal pilgrimage you can say and an homage to one of my most favorite movies ever.
Yessss🍃🌌🌁
I remember watching this movie after my breakup and sobbing. It's so bittersweet to be told so beautifully that memories are worth something even if the relationship ended. And that not all things are meant to last, but that doesn't make them worthless
True!!
"So often we place too much value on outcomes...But even if we end in a place of pain, the best parts of the journey that got us there have a deep intangible, even sacred value that we shouldn't be so quick to dismiss."-
Words to live by. With that said, PLEASE do one on LOST!
3
😭💗
and this is why men don’t women that have been ran through, she gon have all those emotional attachments to other guys
She's so much more than a manic pixie girl
so is every manic pixie dream girl it's just that they aren't seen like that
yeah, she is the critique of the trope before that trope was given a name.
yeah imo she is an equal part of the story as joel, this movie is about joel tho
I agree and also your curls are NOICE
The whole point of ‘manic pixie dream girl’ IS that they are more than that but they only exist in the film as character development for the males character.
Kate and Jim's best performances!
maybe kate's.. not a big fan of jim's performance here though
I agree, Jim Carrey's performance is just incredibly emotional in this movie
hillary h that is because you see Jim as this hilarious goofball but if you watch the movie again, try to forget about his previous movies and characters and actually watch his performance. you’ll acknowledge that it was indeed one of his best.
hillary h why?
I disagree but these performances are way up there
The voice of the narrator is soo soothing
she should do audiobooks
There are two of them narrating! They sound so similar I always forget there's two of them.
It’s always a treat to hear a natural feminine voice.
Wow the one who wrote this has an amazing eye for detail
I always thought the message of the film was you should accept your past no matter how painful it would be because it's part of your identity and learning. Since they both erased each other, they would have to repeat the same relationship until they learn what they need, just like inthe wheel of life represented as you pointed out in the color of Clem's hair as the seasons of nature. Great video, girls!!! Have a Happy new year!!!
Same.
I actually really like that idea. Basically like they are in purgatory until they learn this life lesson and move past it. This movie keeps popping up and I've gone from being meh to actively disliking it severely(self inflicted brain damage, expecting other people to cater to you to the point of erasing parts of their own lives, the gross background stuff etc...) the more analysis I see but your take might actually make it tolerable for me...if I think if it not as the real world but as a holding room for all these characters to repeat their mistakes until they learn from them.
Yeah, this is a more concise way of phrasing my take on it. My read has always been that instead of growing past the things they don't like about each other, they erase them and thus refuse to learn. Gondry actually said in an interview that the looping clip of them playing in the snow was supposed to extend and loop throughout the entire credits roll, symbolizing that they will continue to meet, fall in love, erase each other, and repeat the whole thing again. You can see the contrast in Mary (Kirsten Dunst's character), because she actively decides that the whole process is inhumane and leaves so that she can heal. No relationship in the entire movie is painted as perfect, or even that happy. The mutual friends that the couple meet through are always shown to be stressed and arguing, but they're also committed to making their relationship work.
exactly 💞
@@Ceares .
This movie could be an episode from black mirror
Genius! I kinda want to write that lol
oh my gosh true
It actually reminds me that one ep where that guy tries to forget his memories with his wife.
@@dalkomlatte5822 name?
I really liked how her hair was blue when she was sad and depressed after the procedure, orange when the mood was always agitated and the relationship started to crumble and finally red in Joel's memories, as he started to rediscover his love for Clementine. Orange is especially important as it is the key to Joel realizing that Patrick was using his own things, memories and behavior in order to weasel his way into her heart, something he fails miserably at and ironically makes them meet again in Montauk.
I LOVE this movie and never considered that her hair was more than a way to keep track of time.
Same!
Another interesting little detail about the final scene of the film is that the sequence of Clem and Joel playing in the snow repeats about 3x as it fades to white. This could represent their love going through the same cycle for the rest of their lives: fall in love, erase, repeat.
According to the guy that wrote the script that's exactly what it represents; the original script was supposed to outright state that Clem and Joel go through this loop over and over, but in the end only the ending has this clue in it. Killed me when I found out because I loved the hopeful ending that, it turned out, wasn't actually there.
@@angrypom but what about the girl who worked for the firm (the one w/ a crush on the doctor), didn't she send out all the tapes to the clients and quit? the procedure can't be repeated over and over bec there is no business anymore after she went public about it...
ps. I'm still confused abt this bec i have seen opinions on both sides, so I'm curious as to what yours is.
@@broadwayzjm5257 I don't really know; maybe it represents the fact that they have been through this cycle many times (but can't any more). I'd always read the ending as rather hopeful because I didn't notice the loop, it was the original script writer that shattered my poor, positive interpretation.
@@angrypom Well no wonder they took it out because it would be a plot hole. They can't do it over and over again if the memory erasing business is shut down. Plus the characters are aware that they erased each other in the past. And they are back together again, so they would go through the loop again??? Idk if that would make any sense.
I love Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind for all the same reasons probably everyone in the comment section is saying.. The concept of relationships and complexity of maturing as a partner through the failures. Really though, this movie is one of my all time favorites for it's BEAUTIFUL portrayals of dreams and the chaos of how memories play in dreams. How they jump and blend and repeat and distort... The subtle input of the outside world and how logic works during all this. Masterful work.
What I love a lot about this movie is how normal it makes all the actors look. They managed to secure an All-star cast for this movie and yet, you wouldn't think it just by looking at any of them. None of them are burdened by their celebrity. There's no elaborate costumes or makeup or sets. It all looks so normal. It looks like the rest of us.
This is what makes the movie more relatable to me. So many other drama films still look glamorous to some extent. Of course this movie isn't stark or cold. It's in-between. This pairs with the story and its themes. It shows people as they are and that's what makes it so beautiful.
Finally, the good old analysis are back
When were they gone?
Jane Ιωάννα
They very much changed the style of
Their analysis’s
In my senior year of high school, I wrote an essay about the use of color in Eternal Sunshine. I then submitted it as a writing sample on my college applications, and I remember getting a letter of acceptance that especially complemented me on that essay. I don't remember what I said too specifically, as it's been about 13 years since I wrote it, so I can only hope that what I had to say was anywhere near as interesting as Screenprism's analysis. Hopefully it's still hanging out in a box in my parents' basement, or maybe I can take some inspiration from Joel's journey and my memories of my younger self can go rooting around in my head to find it.
That's pretty awesome
I’d be interested to read that
@@ChakasCave me too!
me as well
Ok Mr JeffPants... off to mama's basement. Seems you have an audience.
I feel kind of stupid for not noticing this before. Nonetheless, I love this movie and all its layers and nuances. It's so delightful in how it deconstructs both the fantasy of some perfect person fixing your life and the fantasy of undoing the pain caused by that relationship by simply forgetting it. Wistful and melancholy yet still optimistic, it's one of the best films of the 00s.
Joel’s final “ok.” always makes me tearfully smile. Great analysis! Awesome video, thank you.
Even with all her flaws, I love the character of clementine and I wish they showed her experiences. Clementine is one of those characters you crave to see more of.
"....but BLUE is the warmest colour."
Do u think Emma ? Ex adele?
What so good about that movie?
watch it, you’ll uncover the greatness in it :)
Yes! I have been waiting for an analysis on Eternal Sunshine! It's such a fantastic "romance" film. I would love to see an analysis on "The Before" trilogy sometime
Me too! It's an underrated trilogy, in my opinion, and I'd be interested in seeing a video analysis on all the subtle themes and imagery found in the films.💗
Yes! I would love to see that!
@@trinaq it's the most accurate depiction of love overtime! there's little subtle nuisances between each film that almost self reference; such as Celine's hesitation to fix Jesse's hair in Before Sunset, it feels like a callback to Jesse fixing Celine's hair in Before Sunset. We just see such a beautiful evolution of these two, "mundane" and "ordinary" people (quotes around those words because both characters are quite interesting) and it should be discussed! :-)
yesss
If i remember correctly, clementine mentions on the train ride that there is another colour, yellow. For me, if clementine does not get to the yellow (known as sunshine and rebirth), she will not be able to grow as a person. She therefore cannot except who both want to be in te future because there is no future insight for them or the audience to grab on to.
blonde could be yellow, she is blonde.
It’s amazing how they both erased the memory of each other and still had the chance to meet each other the second time around. I guess you can never fully erase someone you have loved so much from your memory no matter how hard you try.
People call me crazy when i say this is my favorite romantic movie of all time, they say its overrated, there is nothing that emotionally appreciable about this movie, i guess they haven't got the brains to fully comprehend this cinematic, emotional and thought-provoking gem.
Eternal Masterpiece .❤
Nice
*One of my very favorite movies...*
*It's important to remember that just as acceptance can free you, it can also enslave you. Acceptance by itself is a key, but it doesn't tell you which door it will open.*
Wow that is REALLY powerful... like “I’m gonna screenshot this so I can remember it” powerful.
This movie has parked so many emotions with me. I wrote 3 songs for it. I cried over it. It's not just a movie but almost a friend at this point.
Would love to hear these songs if you have them! ❤
I feel this………
Saturday night plans??? Watch Eternal Sunshine for 9999th time. Love it.
I want to have my memory erased so I can watch this again for the first time :D
Jim Carrey did one of those videos where he talked about each movie from his body of work. And there was a little catch in his voice when he mention this one. As if it were in a class by itself. Because it is.
Link?
this movie makes me cry of both sadness and then happiness. can’t say that about many movies
I'd always seen this as kind of about dealing with loss & grief. Yeah, it's a break up, but break up is sort of like the death of a relationship. I always felt like he goes through all the stages of Grief (Anger, bargaining, etc) as his memories are erased. It's not a perfect parallel, since they ultimately get back together... But I always took that as a message you never really lose anyone as long as you keep your memory of them alive.
I have an urge to facepalm. That is so obvious and yet it took you pointing out that truth in order for me to BE AWARE OF WHAT TRUTH THIS HOLDS!! Derp a derp.
Seriously. I just want to make a review of my own multiple relationships with people-not just the romantic variety-and view them now with the same perspective you just gave. Wow. Thank you for your insight, Patrick! You have no idea how many hours of not days of work you have freed up on the general schedule for me and my therapist. Yeah. TMI on the internet. My specialty.😉
This video made me love the movie more than I already did, which I thought wasn't even possible
Such a cool analysis! This got me thinking-Agent Orange was used to kill foliage, harkening back to her green hair, she could be described as lively, wild, and untamed. Maybe concealing the unpleasant parts of her personality. Her dyeing her hair "agent orange" could be seen as the greener parts of their relationship dying, while also showing the more unsavory elements of her. Furthermore, her orange hair could also be a symbol of Joel slowly smothering her true nature, which is what makes her so lovely in the first place.
I have a memory of my own hair color and style being a near identical match to Clem in the Dining Dead scene and I was just losing my marriage my husband is watching the film and I have walked in the room and I feel like I'm not sure if I am a part of the movie the marriage and he said he was not ever going to be able to see the movie the way she's been able to find the real Joel and I have lost my own excitement of my own Clem in the past years. I just think it's funny sad 5 years later as I sit here 43 and mulberry haired more me than I have been in ages. I hope he watches the film again. The girl he saw fit to be the next Mrs James is 13 years my junior. She's not sure why she started to dye her platinum hair rainbow colors. I hope he is colorblind if it is the only thing that he sees when he sees CLAUDIA. I was always Ruth regardless of the hue.
Watching this actually made me feel a lot better about the several breakups (relationships, friendships, home) i've gone through the past few months and that i'm struggling to get over. And it's okay.
it made me feel worse haha
@@mukta4689 why did it make you feel worse?
@@rubylace9963 It was like I was trying to forgive myself and trying to forget it. But it all came rushing back after I saw this so. 😅😭
This movie will forever be my fave ❤️
I wish he made more drama movies .
Check out '23'
Also watch his movie “Jim & Andy” very dramatic but also a doc
Charlie Kaufman wrote synecdoche, new york, anomalisa, being john malkovich, and adaptation. You're welcome
never clicked to a video so fast, this is my favourite movie of all time no doubt.
Mine too
Yesterday: Interstellar.
Today: Eternal Sunshine.
You spoil us, ScreenPrism!
Maybe the best romance Film ever made.
i really love eternal sunshine of the spotless mind because how deep it is and how it teaches you that while thinking of someone can remind you of bad memories you’d want to forget, that person probably gave you good memories, irreplaceable ones, and one day, when you’re strong enough, you can look back on all your memories and be left with precious memories. joel regrets agreeing to the memory erasing because he remembers all the good memories would be erased along with the painful ones. genuinely such a beautiful movie really.
The first time I watched eternal sunshine I personally thought it ended positively, but every review I read about it basically proved the opposite; until this video!
You should analyze the Truman show!!!
as good as that movie was, it could've been so much more. Have you ever read the original script? there was some brilliant darkness in there that got a little too lightened up for a big studio movie.
Kevin W yeah I can see what you mean but I still think it deserves an analysis as it’s themes are still fantastic and really apparent in today’s society.
@@kevinw712 What were some changes, off the top of your head?
Literally the greatest movie ever. There's nothing else like it. Thank you Michel Gondry and Charlie Koffman for making this masterpiece. Also, I have to give a shout out to Mark Ruffalo for his subtle, but amazing performance in this.
Luke Narlee many INDIANS WHO MAKE LOVE MOVIES WILL DISAGREE WITH YOU ON THAT ONE,, some got 100 million birws
First off, I want to say that this was a joy to watch and I'm glad you guys continue to put out great content.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is one of my favorite films ever, but my thoughts on it have changed over time. IMO, it's not actually an optimistic film about enduring love. It's about the reality of how love can burn out and the fact that humans are often prone to repeat mistakes rather than learn from them. I feel like the views expressed in your video are overly optimistic. Director Michel Gondry said in an interview that the looping, fading clip of Joel and Clementine playing in the snow at the end signifies that they are doomed to meet, erase each other, and meet again in a perpetual cycle. Most long-term couples have to accept ugly truths about each other that they may not like, and need to continually revitalize the relationship to keep it going, but Joel and Clem sustain their relationship via willful denial. This is a critique on media representations of love. The things that makes us happy and fulfilled often also cause us pain, and it's up to us to decide whether that's worth enduring.
This is my favorite breakup movie. I watch it and remember that everything is gonna be okay, that the pain is valid and will pass in time.
Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.
Very deep! Gobsmacked, really.
This is by far my most favorite movie ever. I have seen it 100x at least, know every line, and have analyzed the hell out of it. Its so profound, touching, nostalgic, and relatable in so many ways... Meet me in Montauk...
Love how these movies exist so I have something/someone to relate to when it comes to break ups. Just knowing that everyone goes through the same thing is some what assuring that everything will be okay and work itself out in the end.
Wait wait wait wait.... when Joel is in his memory of meeting Clementine he says “you were so into me. Like we were ALREADY lovers” could this mean that they’ve gone through this mental erasing cycle prior to what we see in the film???
umm, yaaaaahh
jetsam flouride lol thanks. I don’t know if that makes me sad or if I love the film even more.
I don't think so, he says that because she acted like they were a married couple.
Like 3 times already
well you can play the movie like a loop
I saw this movie when I was with my ex and I cried because of how sad and beautiful it was..never did I think my relationship would end and now I understand the pain Joel went through when reliving all those memories and losing Clementine
Take care
I did the same thing. When I watched it with him, I actually cried thinking about all our memories and what if they got erased.
Interstellar AND eternal sunshine? So nice to have videos two days in a row featuring my favourite films.
I honestly always had a less optimistic opinion of the conclusion of the film. The lesson I took with each viewing was basically that if we had the option to erase our memories about someone we would be doomed to forever repeat our mistakes. As difficult as living with heartbreak is, hopefully we learn and grow from it. Of course the characters both hear what they’ve said about one another, but for them it might as well be like they’re listening to the stories of two strangers - because they have no recollection of what happened. It’s possible my view was skewed by looking at the ending of the original screenplay wherein they show that the characters continued this cycle over and over again, doomed to be unhappy. Of course, I don’t want to apply the lesson of that version to the final product, because maybe the film is meant to be ambiguous - or maybe it’s meant to have the hopeful interpretation seen in this video.
This explanation makes more sense.... They made the same mistakes because they had no idea how worse it can get... They avoided the lessons of the heartbreak so they never learned from it and ended up making the same mistake again
You see things to deep, too melancholic, and too realistic, since i think you're missing the "hope" part of the movie. I don't think the creator wants us to get that message, but i am on the same boat with you. I mean that's how life is most of the time probably from our experience and understanding of it, but that's what being humans mean, living imperfect miserable life with few good moments in-between. If we can accept it despite everything that we know, i think that is what lets us appreciate life more.
I really love the fact that even if they might not work out in the end, they accept each other as they are and that it’s about the journey, not the destination. I’m going through a very painful breakup right now where we actually previously broke up and got back together once, and even though we didn’t make it, I wouldn’t change anything and the last years have been the best part of our relationship. We simply aren’t compatible and that’s ok, but it was through accepting her for all that she is and myself for all that I am that I was able to make that decision. Unconditional love doesn’t mean holding on to people forever, it means simply wanting what’s best for them even if it isn’t you.
I love that jim carrey is normal here and has feelings ...can you please suggest more movies like this to me
Excellent analysis. I like the hair colour angle you took to view the movie. I’ve seen this movie more times than I care to say and never really stopped to make the link between Clementine’s hair colour... not to the extent you done so in this analysis. Hats off to you for that. Now as I think about the hair colours I’d like to add one point. The green hair from when they first meet can and probably does symbolize the eternal hope of spring. However, like my favourite poet and song writer, Gord Downiest, taught me, there’s often more than one meaning to a work of art. I also see her green hair as being envious of Joel.
I’d like to give that statement some context so that it’s better understood. My wife and I are very much like Joel and Clementine except the roles are inverted in our case. I’m the extroverted and impulsive one and my wife is more level headed and reserved of the two. When my wife and I met, 28 years ago, my impulsiveness had me over reacting and being hurtful. This like Clementine was when she stormed out of the apartment and when she had her memories of Joel wiped. Granted Joel was not too bright to assume that Clementine had fucked someone, but to storm out of a relationship because of a stupid comment said out of a moment of insecurity is an measured over reaction.
In my early twenties I had a pretty serious condition which had me house bound or at least very close to a toilet for almost 2 years. It was corrected by a surgery and 6 months after the surgery I had a new job and felt like a new man. Things were finally looking up but what happens next... my wife sinks into a depresssion. On an afternoon when my wife was feeling especially low my ma came by the apartment. We sat outside on the balcony while my wife took a nap. I told my ma I wanted to leave my wife. I didn’t want to stay in the relationship because she was a downer. I was all better and wanted to start living my life again. I don’t think I had ever seen my mother as angry and disappointed in me. She told me to grow up and help my girlfriend get through this because she had stuck it out with me through my illness, and trust me it wasn’t pleasant for her. Right then and there at 24 years of age grew up in the blink of an eye because I new ma was right.
All this to say that Clementine’s impetuous out bursts cause more harm to a relationship than an insensitive comment made in a moment of anger and frustration feuled by insecurity. So I see the new beginning Joel and Clementine allow themselves at the end of the movie a chance to try again and maybe learn from the nasty thoughts they had about each other. Their chance for success is anyone’s guess, but I think that those chances would be higher if Clementine had someone to keep her impulsiveness in check.
Now to get back to the green hair representing an element of envy... well. I always envied people that were more reserved. They always seemed to me to be more in control. I spoke with a couple of other extroverted impulsive people I’ve met and they said the same. So basically this is where my idea of Clementine’s green hair represents envy comes from.
I want to add that after 28 years together my wife and I are still together, growing and improving as people and as a couple.
This is one of my all time favorite movies, and I thought this was a brilliantly done video breaking it down to it's themes. I also felt like Clem's emotional state and disorientation in the 'real world' while Joel is under going the erasing, is a representation of the connections we form with people, it goes deeper than memories and experiences, it connects us in our soul. 'Real world' Clem can FEEL something is wrong, she doesn't know what, but she can sense it. She can feel something is off with Patrick as well so when she keeps trying to go to the places that comfort her, his presence disturbs her. The connections we form with people we deeply love cannot just be 'erased'.
I wish this could really happen for somebody that's been through narcissistic abuse of a partner that had NPD Disorder
What if you did and history repeated itself?
... but it does. A relationship with a narcissist is a cycle that repeats itself. The sad part is that it's toxic and doesn't get any better, ever. I wish there was a way to truly erase those memories from our subconscious mind that keep us repeating the same cycles with the same types of people. It's not simply a matter of learning from our mistakes. It's the deep seated desire to heal from childhood wounds. There is even a scene in the movie that touches on this, when Joel is a baby.
"Meet me in Montauk" --> can someone explain how in Joel's memory Clem can whisper this to him, which will eventually lead him to the train where he re-meets her? Never fully understood how that worked.
I believe it's because when everything is being erased, he changes his mind so they're both trying to think of ways to hide her (by bringing her to his childhood). Finally they're near the end and she said something like "This is it Joel", they both apologize and say their goodbyes and she quickly says "Meet me in Montauk" right before he wakes up on Valentines Day. Her saying that isn't a real memory so it wasn't erased. He has the urge to skip work and go to Montauk and the rest is history :)
Great timing in posting this video. A week after the start of winter, or blue. Just before the new year where everyone has their resolutions and eventually hit spring, or green.
Thanks for your videos
English teacher: what did the author mean by the blue curtains?
Homework: The blue curtains represent the decaying and intricate sadness of the main character.
Author: I just really like blue...
FindingAnna
Not really the same principal in film.
ah yes foreshadowing, where everything must mean something
I 💕 this movie, it was so underrated!
One of my favorite films of all time. Jim is a comic legend of course, but I’ll always prefer him in his dramatic performances.
Their romance was so realistic to the people who usually find eachother, what they see in eachother, and what they ultimately hate in one another. They also grasped very accurately how our memories (minds) work in conjunction with our emotions.
Do something about Dead Poets Society please
Really happy to see you guys do a video on this movie. I really love this movie, feel like not enough people have seen this gem.
This movie HIT me like no other!
Yes!! I can't get enough of Screenprism film analyses!!!
Finally, my favorite of all time. Thank you screenprism.
I've wait so long to find this meaning why the end repeats itself... Beautiful video
When I first discovered your channel about two years ago, I also found your website/blog, and the first article I read there was the one about Clem's hair color. It's so great that you finally develop the words into this awesome video essay!
I got all choked up by the end of this
So effing moving it's one of my favorite films of all time and you did it such a justice
this is brilliant never have thought about all of this, this brings justice to my favourite movie of all time, thanks Screenprism.
ScreenPrism is revisiting all my favorites and I am here for it ❤️💕❤️💕
Spot on!
Absolutely brilliant analysis of this aspect of the movie.
I thought I couldn't love it more, but you gave me one more reason.
A masterpiece of a film.
I love this channel, it’s so underrated. You guys teach me something new every time I watch.
i´ve seen this movie any number of times,watched/read almost any critical material i could find and,while of course i´d noticed her hair,never thought about what it may mean , love love love this essay and your channel gals,thank you so much!
I will never get over how well spoken this channel is. Thank you for all of this
I've been watching screenprism for the longest time and finally a video on my favourite movie! This is a perfect analysis. I've watched and analysed this film numerous times, but I always saw Clem's hair as just a time stamp for the audience. I never looked into it this deeply. Time for another rewatch I think 😉
This is really good. It’s been my favorite movie forever & I’ve never seen or heard anyone explain it like this. I truly appreciate it. 💕
Such a great video!! I really liked the analogy about the hair colour and seasons for Joel & Clementine’s relationship 💕💕
You guys really knocked this one out of the park!
This is my favorite movie! So glad there’s a analysis of it! Now, I need to see the movie again!
Thank you for this. I’m going through something lately and this brought me some peace without having to know the outcome. My love for him is well alive and I want to go through all the seasons of a relationship with him, no matter how difficult, but I’m afraid he doesn’t want the same. Only time will tell, but this brought me some peace, so thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Meet Me in Montauk- Circa Survive
You put the beauty of the movie into words. I love this video
Nice & simple explanation to the thing we make so complicated in life: feelings, love and acceptance. Great job!
your voice is so clear to my ears, like an instrument.
your heart it's clear the best color you can own in this world, embrace it thank you.
You guys make me feel so happy, with your beautiful insights. Thank you.
You know, this is in my top 10 favorite movies of all time, and I just realized how eerily similar the structure and message of this is to another of my favorites Two for the Road. Amazing job.
i loved this so much! thank u for adding closed captions too!!
Such a unique way too look at the film. Love the video so so so so much
Amazing! You should do this kind of analysis for a living! Seriously, this added a new dimension to the story and added to my appreciation for this movie. THANKS!!! 🔥🤓👍🏾🧠🧐
This is beautiful. Really impressive and insightful look into the the story. Thanks.
I've decided this is in my top 5 favorite movies ever
Meet Me In Montauk- Circa Survive