By José Alberto Hermosillo
“Memory” is a brilliant film with remarkable achievements in its direction and performances. The narrative flawlessly fluctuates between the lovers’
codependency and the portrayal of their past traumas and mental illness in a unique, human, and universal perspective that will indeed engage the audience from beginning to end.
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| Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard in “Memory,” directed by Michel Franco. |
Academy Award-winning actress Jessica Chastain (“The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” “The Help,” “Crimson Peak”) plays Sylvia, a dedicated social worker who offers compassionate support to individuals with special needs at an adult daycare center. She has been a member of Alcoholics Anonymous since becoming pregnant with her responsible and mature daughter, Anna (Brooke Timber), thirteen years ago. Sylvia still harbors some unpleasant memories from her childhood, which led to a complicated relationship with her wealthy mother, who considers her a pathological liar.
On her way home from the Woodbury bar after a high school reunion, Sylvia is followed by Saul Shapiro (Peter Sarsgaard), a well-dressed man who appears lonely rather than threatening. She finds him intriguing but leaves him outside in the cold all night. This encounter occurs under unusual circumstances.
Saul’s brother offers her a job as his caretaker. Saul’s dementia makes it hard for him to remember recent events, but he has vivid memories of years past, which Sylvia finds amusing. The complex dependency in this unusual relationship takes an unexpected turn, causing both to struggle with making rational decisions. This twist will likely surprise and captivate the audience. The couple, one diagnosed with dementia and the other with psychological instability, fails to see the sensitive and legal ramifications of their relationship until it’s too late.
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| Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard in “Memory,” directed by Michel Franco. |
“Memory” is a masterclass in acting by Peter Sarsgaard and Jessica Chastain. They authentically delve into their characters’ emotions, behaviors, and psychology.
Peter Sarsgaard
(“Blue Jasmine,” “Jackie,” and “The Lost Daughter”) is extraordinary and classy, delivering a heartwarming performance. His inspiring work in “Memory” earned him the Volpi Cop for Best
Actor at the Venice Film Festival in 2023.
“Memory” is one of the best and
most ambitious films by Mexican director Michel Franco. Franco preserves a similar bleach-out and oblique style from “Chronic,” his first English-language film starring Tim Roth, which
earned him Best Director at Cannes in 2015. The duo continued their work in
2021 in another moody, intricate, and violent film made in Acapulco, “Sundown.”
“After Lucia” gave Franco the
Uncertain Regard Award and international recognition. With “April’s
Daughters,” Franco achieves a high level of respect for directing actors from
different nationalities. In Michel Franco’s films, audiences can read the actors’ body language without needing to read subtitles to grasp the depth of the emotions in his stories.
In “New Order,” Franco brought an asphyxiating,
nonstop level of violence and anarchy rarely seen on the big screen. It is one
of the most realistic Silver Lion winners presented at the Venice Film
Festival.
Life in a relationship is beautiful, but it is also painful, challenging, and regretful.
“Memory” does not focus on the alienation or sickness of the two main
characters but on their codependency to cope with their physical needs, which is challenging. This makes the audience feel empathetic toward them and understand their needs and struggles, helping them see themselves through
Sylvia and Saul’s eyes.
Watching “Memory” offers an unforgettable experience that will stay with us for a long time, thanks to its impeccable performances
and solid direction.
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| Mexican director Michel Franco and film critic José Alberto Hermosillo www.FestivalinLA.com |
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