Memento- Narrative structures, Unreliable Narrators and the Femme Fatale

Fig.1 Setting

Fig.2 Chiaroscuro

Memento, directed by Christopher Nolan, is a 2000 film told in both forward and reverse, in which Leonard Shelby (Guy Pierce) suffering from anterograde amnesia, a common plot device in noir films,  attempts to avenge his wife by finding and killing her rapist and murderer.  As well as being set in an desolate setting and making heavy use of chiaroscuro, (fig.1, fig.2) Memento is notably a neo-noir crime film because of its film form contains a elaborate narrative structure, unreliable narrator, and the femme fatale.

Kristen Thompson notes that neo-noir crime films often feature "densely-plotted narratives", the structure of neo-noir crime film does not need to necessarily obey conventional storytelling, in which each sequence connects to the next and information is revealed as it is learned. Neo-noir films often feature storylines that are non-linear, analeptic and convoluted, often with the filmmaker actively withholding information for greater emotional connection and manipulation. The structure of Memento, in which the narrative is split, with coloured scenes playing in reverse chronological order and black and white scenes (a tip-of-the-hat to early noir films) playing chronologically, converge at a crucial apex of the story, Teddy getting shot by Leonard. (Fig.3).

Fig.3

This non-linear narrative structure means that the audience, by joining the film and not knowing how the story got there ultimately experience the same kind of amnesia the protagonist is suffering from. Corrigan and White note that Memento "relies on the viewer involvement in the narrative tension between story and plot to create suspense, mystery and interest." Memento's conflict between what is happening in the scene and what is happening in the story therefore has a greater ability to confuse, surprise, scare and satisfy the viewer by starting in media res, such as the penultimate scene in which it is revealed Leonard has already killed his wife's rapist, but he didn't remember and therefore has kept searching for and killing random 'John G's'.  (Fig. 4). As Miss Marple, Agatha Christie's sleuthing detective notes in the famous crime film, The Mirror Crack'd, notes "murder is like a jigsaw. Until you fit in the final piece, you can't see the whole picture."

Fig.4

Whilst most film neo-noir's employ reflexive narrators who call attention to their own "narrative point of view of the story in order complicate or subvert their own narrative authority as a consistent perspective on the world" such as the Narrator in Fight Club. (fig.5). (Corrigan and White).

Fig.5

Memento creates its own unreliable narrator by using a stream-of-consciousness narration, in which Leonard, due to his amnesia, can offer nothing but what he deems 'the facts' (fig.6) with no moral judgement.

Fig.6

In this narration, the audience is placed in the shoes of Leonard, as he receives information so do we, this causes us to believe what we are told, to draw conclusions like that of the main character, to believe what he believes and to try and solve the puzzle that changes shape at the beginning of each new scene.

Fig.7

However, since neo-noir protagonist's are commonly influenced by trauma in their history and doomed by their human flaws to ultimately usurp them from their quest,  the audience should predict that Leonard is not telling the truth, despite the fact he believes he is. (Fig. 7).The unreliable narration of Leonard causes the audience to justify his actions, rooting for his vengeance, however, when it is revealed he has already achieved this vengeance and doesn't remember, the audience is betrayed, left conflicted at the idea that the films protagonist was also his own antagonist.

The femme fatale, literally the 'fatal woman', is a film noir character that manipulates the main character, normally sexually or emotionally, usually resulting in their death or downfall. In Memento the character of Natalie, who initially is introduced as a battered woman, is revealed in scenes such as the following to be using the protagonist for their own benefit, cruelly treating them and capitalising on their flaws, in this case Leonard's disability of anterograde amnesia. The character of the femme fatale will be furthered explored through Lynn Bracken, in the analysis of L.A Confidential.

References

Corrigan, Tim and Patricia White. The Film Experience: An Introduction. Boston: St Martins, 2012. Print.

Thompson, Kirsten Moana. Crime Films Investigating the Scene. London: Wallflower Press, 2007. Print.

Memento. Dir.  David Fincher. Newmarket Capital, 2000. Film.

Fight club. Dir. David Fincher. Fox pictures, 1999. Film.

The Mirror Crack'd. Dir. Guy Hamilton. G.W Films, 1980. Film.