Momento

Question 1

Momento- Introduction:

Answer 1

> 2000, Christopher Nolan = propelled towards success = experimental feature film Memento.
Nolan was to become a respected writer and director.
associated with intricate narratives = pushed
boundaries of time,
realism,
distorted reality.
freedom of control over his films set Nolan up to become an auteur director.

Question 2

Momento- Auteur pt.1

Answer 2

> example of auteur techniques used = focus on the subjectivity of his leading characters inner psyche.
allows audience access to the mind of characters = voice overs in Momento = insight to Lenords thought process.
audience align with Lenord.
he’s an unreliable narrator = take on Lenord’s investigative approach to try to understand the narrative.
focus on subjectivity is common within certain styles of film making, particularly:
impressionism,
expressionism,
film noir,
but Nolen = subjective approaches = further establishes his goal of offering differing forms of realism to cinematic spectators.

Question 3

Momento- Auteur pt.2

Answer 3

> he plays with the temporal structure.
reverse chronology of main narrative begining with climax + moving backward through time.
narrative choice mirrors Lenord’s condition = only retain memorys for short periods of time.
narrative technique = audience lost within the narrative = same disorientated and confusion Lenord suffers.

Question 4

Momento- Auteur pt.3 - opening scene

Answer 4

> in colour, and is the only scene literally presented in reverse.
clear image = polaroid photo slowly disappears as it is shaken.
The photograph eventually rises, lodging back into camera.
empty bullet cartridge rolling around on the ground = rises back into it’s chamber = unknown man is violently shot in back of the head.
unusual reverse presentation = acclimates the viewer into the world and structure that Nolan is creating.
reverse opening = subsequent new colour scene = presents new information leading up to where the last scene had concluded.

Question 5

Momento- Auteur pt.4

Answer 5

> colour scenes are juxtaposed = black and white scenes -on the surface appear to be more objective when concerning facts and reality.
Unlike reverse colour sequences, black and white scenes are presented chronologically = picking up directly where the last scene left off.
presented more objectively = camera often filming from unnaturally high angles.
For example, first black and white scene = birds eye, canted angle point of view captures Lenord sat on the bed as a voice over of his inner thoughts begin.
filmed on a handheld camera, using a documentary style, resembling cinema verity, = trustworthy nature of the information we are being given.

Question 6

Momento- Auteur pt.5

Answer 6

> very logical reverse linear structure = one piece was removed, the film would collapse.
Every scene vitally important piece of narrative puzzle = builds off the previous scenes + guides direction of following ones.
films construction also fortifies Nolan’s aim of making spectators apart of the characters subjective journey while being last within their narrative maze.
films narrative leads them in a direction = next scene is presented, perspectives inevitably changes based on new revelations / evidence.
most film noir, Momento was designed to confuse audiences.

Question 7

Momento- Auteur Conclusion

Answer 7

> Nolan clearly shows auteur qualities in Momento =
thematic ideas of memory,
reality,
truth
later developed in inception and interstellar.