Notes on the film Memento

1. THRILLER NOTES FOR MEMENTO
Take notes below for MEMENTO. You will be analysing it at a later date.
EDITING
-Titles are digitally edited over top of Polaroid photo of blood against wall
-Reverse/rewind editing showing it going back in time
-Non linemphasiseior
-Black and White/film noir is used for flash backs
-Flash back/montage of his wife is still in colour which is showing his happy
memories and is before his accident. It is from his point of view rather than in the
motel scene.
-Repeated scene
CAMERA SHOTS/ANGLES/MOVEMENT
-Close ups on clues (tattoos, pictures, notes) shows us important facts that he
needs to remember. It emphasise his confusion
-Zooms up on to close ups of his face as he explains his what happened to his face
-Close up / Shallow focus on his tattoos shows the audience important information
and clues
-Quick cuts back to his tattoos
-Match on Action between convocation at the booth
SOUND
-Score is just a one key piano with a pause between each note it, this builds up
suspense and we think that it might carshendo
-Extremely load tattoo, much louder than a normal tattoo would be
THEMES & MOTIFS
-Confusion and trying to piece together clues
-He is dressed in a beige suit with blue suit
-Natalie is dressed in black, sun glasses, split lip
-They both have injuries on her face
SYMBOLIC CODES (including enigma and binary opposites)
-Recurring motif of ‘Sammy Jenkiks’ tattoo on his hand
-Colour polite is very pale almost castles everybody looks devastated
IDEOLOGY
LIGHTING
-Low key Lighting in side the building

2. -charsgohu lighting on his face half light half black when Nat is sleeping on his
chest. Shows his internal battle and trying to put everything together
NARRATIVE
-Voice over/ internal monologue shows characters internal conflict
-Find out how he lost his memory from his confiscation with the manger of the motel
-The black and while flash backs get longer every time and allow us to see more of
what is going on in his life
CHARACTERS
REPRESENTATION
-Protagonist is questioning what he is doing, shows he is confused
SETTING & MISE-EN-SCENE
-Use of multiply locations (they are old, rusty and run down), they represent himself
and his confusing/trying to rebuild himself
-Locations: Car park, motel room, abandoned buildings
-Reptions of Blue in the colour scheme (shirt, door, bed, bucket) it represents
sorrow, regret and emotional problems
-Flash backs to the office contrast - he has a clean cut hair, his costuming is formal
and put together