Study Questions Memento, by Christopher Nolan

- What does the focus on the role of memory have to do with questions of identity and subjectivity?

Relate this to Oliver Sack’s observations.

- If Leonard lacks the memories that provide continuity to his life, how does he establish some type of provisional continuity?  Is he a reliable narrator? Can this be related to any of the cas studeies in “Man Who…”

- If the film’s narrative is not structured in chronological time how do we make sense of events? What, if any, structuring takes the place of linear time? What would happen if the film were presented in chronological order?  How is the end already in the beginning and the beginning already in the end and what does this imply about narrative structure? 

- How does repetition function in the film?  Give examples. 

- Black and White vs. Color – what is different about these scenes?  Why the use of black and white for these scenes?

-    What exactly functions as the memento in the film Memento? 

Quotes:

“Memory is treachery” – tattoo

“The present is trivia which I scribble out as notes”

“How am I supposed to heal if I can’t feel time?”

“I’ve done it” – tattoo