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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.
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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 subtitles to grasp the depth of emotion 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 full of regret. “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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