"Memory", beautifully crafted by writer-director Michel Franco, is a profound take on dementia that immediately grabs viewers with its upon-us heavy familiarity. Starting off with a peek into an Alcoholics Anonymous gathering, the film takes on a peculiar momentum as attendees share their experiences beginning with the phrase "I remember". Franco's attention is soon dramatically shifted towards Sylvia (Jessica Chastain), a sober mother who's attending the meeting with her daughter Anna (Brooke Timber). Sylvia's long-standing sobriety, tracing back to Anna's birth amplifies their close-knit bond; but the underlying details surrounding Sylvia's past, particularly her struggles with alcoholism, stirs an intrigue around the impacts of trauma and disease on one's self-perception.
The film's nuanced curiosity begins to unravel as Saul (Peter Sarsgaard) enters into the frame, bringing with him layers of enigma. A silent interaction with Saul at her school reunion propels Sylvia to a point where she storms off without uttering a single word. Despite a harsh downpour, Saul follows Sylvia home and even spends the night outside her window. This leaves the audience to painfully navigate the dark narrative framework Franco painstakingly sculpts with minimal dialogue.
Chastain impeccably portrays Sylvia's stiffness, and her interactions with Saul create an air of unease. Caught in a jarring narrative triad, we learn that Saul has early-onset dementia, Sylvia suffered rape at 12 at the hands of Saul's friend Ben, and she also suspects Saul played a part in her violation. When Saul's brother, Isaac (Josh Charles) offers Sylvia a job to care for Saul, their initially strained relationship takes intriguing turns.
The film loses some of its magic when it shifts focus from Sylvia and Saul. Sylvia's relationship with her daughter Anna, holds an air of ambiguity. Much like Sylvia's interactions with extended family – Sylvia's sister Olivia's (Merritt Wever) household – they primarily serve as means to extract more hidden truths from Sylvia.
Franco's knack for painting complex characters and his poignant storytelling is apparent in his pieces, such as the Mexican dystopian thriller "New Order". However, in "Memory", his intricate layering of plot tends to feel slightly overwhelming. Though a game of keepaway with certain characters like Sylvia's estranged mother (Jessica Harper) becomes cumbersome, the emotional payoff upon their eventual confrontation is worth the weary probe.
"Memory" works as it's not just a mind-bender but a tale viewed through a profoundly human lens. It does not resort to simple sentimentality and dives into the lesser-explored territory of early stages of dementia. Here, Saul is not just a dementia patient; he's battling to hold onto his swiftly fading reality, to define his autonomy, and question his capacity to love and voice his desires.
Though "Memory" doesn't deliver a neat pack of answers, it does underline the significance of treating those grappling with trauma or psychological damage with respect and dignity. "Memory" invites its viewers to appreciate the complexities of human experience, now in limited release and going wider in January.
