Search/Recent Changes
DBTropes
...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
type
TVTItem
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
label
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
page
EternalSunshineOfTheSpotlessMind
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
comment
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2004 science-fiction comedy-drama film directed by Michel Gondry, written by Charlie Kaufman and starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet (the former in one of his more serious roles).After his declining relationship ends in a serious argument, Joel Barish (Carrey) decides to make up with his now ex-girlfriend Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet). Finding she's changed her number, he desperately follows her to work; when she treats him like an average customer, he soon learns she dealt with the heartbreak by undergoing a memory-wiping procedure. Since Clem has cut him out of her life altogether, Joel meets with Lacuna Inc., the company that specializes in this procedure, and opts to undergo it himself in an act of spite.What follows is a rather surreal journey through his memories, with Joel re-experiencing their entire relationship in reverse order as Lacuna backtracks through his memories to wipe them away in an interwoven, current-time B-plot. Of course, once Joel becomes consciously aware that he's reliving his fading memories (and those most recent bad memories are fading...), it doesn't take long for him to realize why he fell in love with Clementine in the first place, making him realize he'd rather not forget his connection even as he moves inexorably backwards through his memories towards erasing it completely...The film does have some notable similarities to "Hearts Do Not in Eyes Shine", a short story by John Kessel published in 1983; the said story centers around a couple who had their memories partially erased and follows a similar story progression.Now has a character sheet that could use some growth.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
fetched
2024-03-02T23:31:14Z
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
parsed
2024-03-02T23:31:14Z
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
processingComment
Dropped link to Fanservice: Not a Feature - IGNORE
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
processingComment
Dropped link to TheDivineComedy: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_10dcbe05
type
Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_10dcbe05
comment
Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: Even after they have each erased one other from their memories, Joel and Clementine both meet up the next day in the place they first met and then start to fall in love all over again. As well as being very sweet, it shows that Clementine also tried to resist her mind being wiped in the same way we see Joel do in the film.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_10dcbe05
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_10dcbe05
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_10dcbe05
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_143939c1
type
Trailers Always Spoil
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_143939c1
comment
Trailers Always Spoil: Averted in that a great deal of the promotional material involved pseudo-commercials for Dr. Mierzwiak's memory wipe clinic. Played straight, however, in that the entire premise involves the spoiler that Joel goes through with getting Clementine erased.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_143939c1
featureApplicability
-1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_143939c1
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_143939c1
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_149ff4b0
type
HilarityEnsues
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_149ff4b0
comment
Hilarity Ensues: What happens when a man hides his girlfriend in his childhood memories.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_149ff4b0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_149ff4b0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_149ff4b0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1869b4b1
type
Unreliable Narrator
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1869b4b1
comment
Unreliable Narrator: Joel. A great portion of the film is told through Joel's memories of events he experienced with Clementine, but the unreliability of those memories is shown on at least two occasions. When Joel first arrives home the night of the erasure, his neighbor chats with him about Valentine's Day. This is then the first substantial memory about Clementine that gets erased. But while this event took place just a short while (maybe an hour at most) before the erasure, it is shown that Joel is already incorrectly remembering what his neighbor said to him. Taking the imperfection of human memory alongside whether Joel considered a given memory as enjoyable or upsetting, the audience ought to wonder if what they're viewing is what actually happened, or if Joel's memories are distorted, exaggerated, or embellished because of the passing of time and because of his emotional state at the time of the event. On several occasions, for example, Clementine often instigates arguments and acts cruel towards Joel; however, while she's the Hot-Blooded of the two, there's probably major bias since it's from Joel's perspective.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1869b4b1
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1869b4b1
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1869b4b1
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1892368b
type
Memory-Wiping Crew
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1892368b
comment
Memory-Wiping Crew: Lacuna Inc are a non-MIB version, removing memories of bad relationships. They would even set up in the client's home so they would wake up without any idea that something had happened.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1892368b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1892368b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1892368b
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_18d15922
type
Title Drop
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_18d15922
comment
Title Drop: The page quote, which appears in the film as recited by Mary.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_18d15922
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_18d15922
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_18d15922
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1b5c9c48
type
The Blank
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1b5c9c48
comment
The Blank: Faces in partially-erased memories.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1b5c9c48
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1b5c9c48
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1b5c9c48
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1b74d23d
type
Milholland Relationship Moment
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1b74d23d
comment
Milholland Relationship Moment: A slight case as the fate of the relationship afterwards is left ambiguous: upon Joel and Clementine learning that they were in a relationship and both opted to erase their memories of each other, they end up listening to the tapes of them discussing their breakup and the bitterness they wish to undo. It seems like they're about to separate yet again, but Joel — seemingly against his own better judgement — still asks Clementine to stay as he evidently still has feelings for her. Clem initially brushes it off, claiming that both of their personal problems will lead to them falling apart again... which both of them accept.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1b74d23d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1b74d23d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1b74d23d
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1ba17583
type
The Ghost
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1ba17583
comment
The Ghost: Naomi is talked about but never seen on-screen. Joel breaks up with her for Clem and later states that this was a mistake. Actually, there was a sub-plot involving Joel having a one-night stand with his Naomi (played by Ellen Pompeo), but it was deleted from the final cut of the film.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1ba17583
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1ba17583
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1ba17583
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1fb947b6
type
Just Train Wrong
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1fb947b6
comment
Just Train Wrong: The big Long Island Rail Road logos on the train cars don't hide the red stripes that are the distinctive livery of Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line, which serves Connecticut and southern Westchester County. And, Joel gets on the train at the New Rochelle station, not in Brooklyn.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1fb947b6
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1fb947b6
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_1fb947b6
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2006056c
type
Girls Have Cooties
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2006056c
comment
Girls Have Cooties: When Joel brings the memory of Clementine into his memory of being babysat as a toddler, he also takes on the mindset of a toddler. Consequently, when Clem flashes her underwear at Joel, he reacts with childish disgust.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2006056c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2006056c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2006056c
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_234fa9ba
type
May–December Romance
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_234fa9ba
comment
May–December Romance: Mary and Dr. Mierzwiak were having an affair before Mary was pressured into having him erased from her memory.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_234fa9ba
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_234fa9ba
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_234fa9ba
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_237404cc
type
Ironic Echo
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_237404cc
comment
Ironic Echo: "I'll be sure to remember that". *memory erased*
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_237404cc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_237404cc
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_237404cc
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_23781532
type
Ironic Name
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_23781532
comment
Clementine — which means "merciful". "Oh my darlin' Clementine... You are lost and gone forever...". The fruit may have been part of what led them to make her dye her hair orange, and also informed Joel's nickname for her.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_23781532
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_23781532
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_23781532
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2534ee67
type
In Medias Res
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2534ee67
comment
In Medias Res: When Joel is having the procedure, the movie jumps between key parts of his relationship with Clementine (as opposed to chronological order). Also used as a twist in that the movie opening, where Clem and Joel meet on a train, is actually for the second time after they've had each other wiped.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2534ee67
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2534ee67
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2534ee67
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_27690f66
type
Literary Allusion Title
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_27690f66
comment
Literary Allusion Title: The page quote, from Alexander Pope's "Eloisa to Abelard". Mary directly quotes from it late in the film.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_27690f66
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_27690f66
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_27690f66
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2bc77899
type
I Am Not Pretty
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2bc77899
comment
I Am Not Pretty: Clementine has severe body image issues and at one point calls Patrick because she's freaking out about her looks. During his procedure, Joel remembers a time when she confessed to him that when she was little she had an "ugly girl" doll that she named Clementine. She thought that she was ugly, and would say to her doll, "Be pretty!" in the hopes that she would become pretty, too. The intimacy of this confession is so profound that, as it disappears from his memories, Joel begins to realize that the procedure is robbing him of things he really doesn't want to forget.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2bc77899
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2bc77899
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2bc77899
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2e39af52
type
Girlish Pigtails
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2e39af52
comment
Girlish Pigtails: Clementine sports braided ones in a few scenes.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2e39af52
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2e39af52
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2e39af52
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2f329e3c
type
Tomato in the Mirror
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2f329e3c
comment
Tomato in the Mirror: Mary had a relationship with Dr. Mierzwiak. When his wife learned about his affair, Mierzwiak pushed Mary into getting him wiped from her memory.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2f329e3c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2f329e3c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_2f329e3c
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_3684532f
type
Never Heard That One Before
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_3684532f
comment
Never Heard That One Before: Almost everyone Clementine meets sings "Oh My Darlin', Clementine" at her (often alluding to The Huckleberry Hound Show) — a joke that is inverted at the beginning, when Clementine learns to her discomfiture that Joel doesn't know the show or the song even when she sings it to him. We later learn that he had immediately associated Clementine with the song and with Huckleberry Hound at their (erased) first meeting, when he sang it at her right after she said not to joke about her name.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_3684532f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_3684532f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_3684532f
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_372bc105
type
Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_372bc105
comment
Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism: The movie itself is ambiguous (or at least balanced) on this, but it does seem to be fairly effective at revealing where viewers are on the scale.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_372bc105
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_372bc105
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_372bc105
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_40cc0c7e
type
Bittersweet Ending
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_40cc0c7e
comment
Bittersweet Ending: Joel and Clem discover they wiped one another from their memories and, listening to their pre-wipe tapes, learn they ended up hating everything about each other. Despite this, and the fact that their relationship will probably end up in same, they decide to start over and try again. According to Word of God, one idea for the course of their relationship was they would get together, break up, wipe their memories, and start over multiple times.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_40cc0c7e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_40cc0c7e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_40cc0c7e
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_42c186e
type
A Tragedy of Impulsiveness
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_42c186e
comment
A Tragedy of Impulsiveness: Even lampshaded when Joel becomes self-aware of the erasure:
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_42c186e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_42c186e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_42c186e
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_4b316d47
type
Break the Cutie
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_4b316d47
comment
Break the Cutie: Mary is initially sweet, cheerful and lively, but becomes very depressed when she learns that she'd already had a relationship with Howard and had the memory erased at his insistence. And worse yet, in a deleted scene, it is revealed that Howard also convinced her to have an abortion.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_4b316d47
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_4b316d47
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_4b316d47
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_4e7c4536
type
Wham Line
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_4e7c4536
comment
Wham Line:
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_4e7c4536
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_4e7c4536
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_4e7c4536
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_4f40f2b9
type
You Can Run, but You Can't Hide
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_4f40f2b9
comment
You Can Run, but You Can't Hide: Verbatim. Stan says this the second time Joel tries to get away to save his memory of Clementine, which to him probably appears as unexpected blips popping up on a memory mapping computer.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_4f40f2b9
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_4f40f2b9
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_4f40f2b9
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_4f905a07
type
If You Can Read This
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_4f905a07
comment
If You Can Read This: Upon closer inspection, a love note Clementine wrote to Joel reveals that they had sex on the ice after the scene where they lie down on the frozen Charles.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_4f905a07
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_4f905a07
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_4f905a07
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_565106b3
type
Women Are Wiser
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_565106b3
comment
Women Are Wiser: Inverted: as Clementine's Manic Pixie Dream Girl status is deconstructed, Joel goes from being simply Comically Serious to being the closer-to-Earth counter to Clementine's bare recklessness.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_565106b3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_565106b3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_565106b3
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_5941d75
type
Beta Couple
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_5941d75
comment
Beta Couple: Mary and Stan, who both work at Lacuna and are seeing each other. Then it's revealed that Mary was previously with Howard. Joel's friends Rob and Carrie, who experience similar relationship issues to he and Clementine.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_5941d75
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_5941d75
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_5941d75
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_5adf099a
type
Fictional Constellations
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_5adf099a
comment
Fictional Constellations: Discussed when Clementine and Joel have their (apparently) first date on a frozen lake at night. Clem asks Joel to point out constellations though he doesn't know any, so he makes one up off the top of his head: Osidious The Emphatic ("Right over there, kind of a swoop and a cross").
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_5adf099a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_5adf099a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_5adf099a
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_5be919ae
type
Break-Up/Make-Up Scenario
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_5be919ae
comment
Break-Up/Make-Up Scenario: Even Ross and Rachel didn't go through as many as Joel and Clem. Many of their memories show fights and reconciliations, till the end of the movie. One interpretation of the film, made explicit in an early draft of the screenplay, is that the two of them spend their entire lives getting together, breaking up, erasing each other and then getting back together again.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_5be919ae
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_5be919ae
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_5be919ae
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_62f9d08e
type
Freeze-Frame Bonus
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_62f9d08e
comment
Freeze-Frame Bonus: A love letter from Clem to Joel briefly appears that can only be read if you pause the movie and look really closely. Upon closer inspection, a lot can be inferred about Joel's relationship with Clementine from the objects he throws out to erase her. A montage towards the end has random single frames inserted that show happy moments between Joel and Clementine. Joel's bedside table has a copy of Dante's The Divine Comedy on it - appropriate for both plot and theme.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_62f9d08e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_62f9d08e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_62f9d08e
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_657f77e4
type
Caught with Your Pants Down
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_657f77e4
comment
Caught with Your Pants Down: One of Joel's humiliating memories is his mother catching him masturbating to crude, hand-drawn porn as a teen.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_657f77e4
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_657f77e4
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_657f77e4
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6627695f
type
Author Appeal
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6627695f
comment
Author Appeal: If Charlie Kaufman's previous movie is any indication, he has a personal fondness for the story of Abelard and Heloise. As seen in the page quote, Alexander Pope's poem about them ("Eloisa to Abelard") is the basis of this film's title.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6627695f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6627695f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6627695f
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_67e9f779
type
Teleport Spam
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_67e9f779
comment
Clementine performing a Teleport Spam around Joel's apartment is actually Kate Winslet using hidden passages to get from one room to the other; that scene is done in one shot.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_67e9f779
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_67e9f779
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_67e9f779
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_680bb6b1
type
Hot-Blooded
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_680bb6b1
comment
Taking the imperfection of human memory alongside whether Joel considered a given memory as enjoyable or upsetting, the audience ought to wonder if what they're viewing is what actually happened, or if Joel's memories are distorted, exaggerated, or embellished because of the passing of time and because of his emotional state at the time of the event. On several occasions, for example, Clementine often instigates arguments and acts cruel towards Joel; however, while she's the Hot-Blooded of the two, there's probably major bias since it's from Joel's perspective.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_680bb6b1
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_680bb6b1
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_680bb6b1
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_691040ee
type
Amnesiac Resonance
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_691040ee
comment
Amnesiac Resonance: The reason why Joel and Clem meet again at Montauk. And again.. and again.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_691040ee
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_691040ee
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_691040ee
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6a3bedce
type
Modesty Bedsheet
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6a3bedce
comment
Modesty Bedsheet: During any love scenes, Clementine is covered by the bedsheets.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6a3bedce
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6a3bedce
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6a3bedce
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6b2b3b59
type
The Reveal
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6b2b3b59
comment
The Reveal: Mary already had an affair with Dr. Mierzwiak before the film started, then opted to have her memory wiped of the ordeal. The fact that the film sets this up to happen again is in keeping with the theme that if you don't remember your own history, you're likely to repeat it. Not to mention that Joel and Clementine's "initial" meeting in Montauk is in fact the second time they've met. Probably qualifies as a First-Episode Twist. This is a more positive spin on the theme: You Can't Fight Fate where love is concerned.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6b2b3b59
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6b2b3b59
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6b2b3b59
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6bda9a30
type
Meaningful Name
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6bda9a30
comment
Meaningful Name: Clementine — which means "merciful". "Oh my darlin' Clementine... You are lost and gone forever...". The fruit may have been part of what led them to make her dye her hair orange, and also informed Joel's nickname for her. "Lacuna" is a gap, blank, or missing piece; in Italian, it also refers to a memory lapse.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6bda9a30
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6bda9a30
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6bda9a30
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6d41b8da
type
Fantastic Aesop
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6d41b8da
comment
Fantastic Aesop: Loving someone is worth the pain of bad times with them, and ripping them out of your memory is a lot more trouble and pain than remembering them.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6d41b8da
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6d41b8da
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6d41b8da
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6d7cd3e
type
Dead Person Impersonation
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6d7cd3e
comment
Dead Person Impersonation: A variant — Patrick takes advantage of his job at Lacuna, Inc. to steal romantic lines and gifts from the materials that patients turn in when they erase someone from their memory, thus impersonating someone who is forgotten but not dead. (Interestingly, the strangeness of his target's emotional reactions to a few of these stolen moves suggest Clementine resisted the erasure of Joel, too).
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6d7cd3e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6d7cd3e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_6d7cd3e
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_711714da
type
Opposites Attract
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_711714da
comment
Opposites Attract: Played with, and perhaps deconstructed. The conflict between Clem's open and outgoing personality and Joel's comparatively withdrawn and introverted personality causes friction in their relationship and is one factor which leads to their breakup - he's boring, she's unpredictable and dangerously impulsive.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_711714da
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_711714da
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_711714da
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_716cdf08
type
Vorpal Pillow
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_716cdf08
comment
Vorpal Pillow: Played for Laughs. The two main characters take turns pretending to smother each other, probably as foreplay. Clem calls Joel out for coming out of character too soon.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_716cdf08
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_716cdf08
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_716cdf08
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7241785e
type
You Can't Fight Fate
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7241785e
comment
You Can't Fight Fate: Clementine and Joel show signs that they would have gotten back together even hadn't Mary opted to break the rules and mail them back all of the materials required for the procedure. In fact, Mary returning the tapes to them was what interrupted their getting back together again right after the memory wipe. Mary ends up falling for Dr. Mierzwiak again despite getting a memory wipe to remove even any memory of why she'd fall for him in the first place. Mary is alarmed by this as Dr. Mierzwiak is a married man, and probably would have renewed the affair if his wife hadn't caught them kissing in Joel's house. Part of Mary's alarm (and fury) later may come from the fact that while she had the affair wiped from her memory, Dr. Mierzwiak quite clearly didn't — he wouldn't be able to tell her that they had a "history", otherwise. And he knew all the things that had made her fall in love with him the first time... and he may even have been doing the same thing as Patrick, playing on the forgotten memories to spark a relationship.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7241785e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7241785e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7241785e
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7374ab13
type
Once More, with Clarity
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7374ab13
comment
Once More, with Clarity: The scenes of Joel meeting Clementine on Montauk at the beginning are repeated later, at which point it's clear that they're meeting for the second time, but neither one is aware of it. Even the sound of a van driving away outside as Joel wakes up turns out to be the Lacuna, Inc. van.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7374ab13
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7374ab13
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7374ab13
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7464705c
type
Arc Words
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7464705c
comment
Arc Words: "Meet me in Montauk". Joel's choice adjective is "nice". This crops up as a common conversation piece, as a plot point (where Patrick's accidental use freaks out Clementine as it makes her vaguely remember what was erased), and it even appears as a Running Gag:
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7464705c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7464705c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7464705c
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_79729e6d
type
Uptight Loves Wild
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_79729e6d
comment
Uptight Loves Wild: The film quite thoroughly deconstructs this. A relationship like this doesn't always work and after the falling-in-love part, it causes more pain than joy; so much so that both parties opt to have their memories removed of each other.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_79729e6d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_79729e6d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_79729e6d
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7ade2167
type
Mental Story
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7ade2167
comment
Mental Story: Roughly half of the film takes place inside Joel's head while his memory is being erased.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7ade2167
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7ade2167
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7ade2167
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7b20b8d2
type
Alternative Foreign Theme Song
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7b20b8d2
comment
Alternative Foreign Theme Song: A cover of The Bangles' "Eternal Flame" sung by LISA was used as the theme song in the Japanese version.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7b20b8d2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7b20b8d2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7b20b8d2
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7efd2e30
type
Expository Hairstyle Change
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7efd2e30
comment
Expository Hairstyle Change: Clementine's hair frequently changes throughout. As it turns out, the color helps indicate her relationship with Joel: it's green early in their relationship (and the first time they meet), red in the first part of their relationship when they were happy, orange when her relationship with Joel was falling apart, and blue after her memory is wiped of Joel (and when they meet a second time).
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7efd2e30
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7efd2e30
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_7efd2e30
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_805deb6e
type
Small Role, Big Impact
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_805deb6e
comment
Small Role, Big Impact: Hollis, Howard's wife, gets only two scenes, but drops the Wham Line specified below.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_805deb6e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_805deb6e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_805deb6e
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_83a8d697
type
Oblivious Guilt Slinging
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_83a8d697
comment
Oblivious Guilt Slinging: Early on, when Joel returns to his apartment to get Clementine erased from his mind, his neighbor congratulates him for having such a cool girlfriend.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_83a8d697
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_83a8d697
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_83a8d697
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_83fb6177
type
First-Episode Twist
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_83fb6177
comment
Not to mention that Joel and Clementine's "initial" meeting in Montauk is in fact the second time they've met. Probably qualifies as a First-Episode Twist. This is a more positive spin on the theme: You Can't Fight Fate where love is concerned.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_83fb6177
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_83fb6177
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_83fb6177
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_847257ff
type
My Biological Clock Is Ticking
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_847257ff
comment
My Biological Clock Is Ticking: Prior to their break-up, Clementine says she wants to have a baby. Joel scoffs that she wouldn't be able to raise one.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_847257ff
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_847257ff
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_847257ff
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_8ae880f7
type
Deconstruction
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_8ae880f7
comment
Deconstruction: The film deconstructs the romantic comedy genre simply by showing the events of the weeks and months after Joel and Clementine fall in love. Even more than that, the Anachronic Order we see things in is the normal order of a Romantic Comedy — first fighting, then falling in love — when really these happened in reverse order as the two fell out of love. Also functions as a Decon-Recon Switch; it's during the deconstruction of their relationship that we see why they fell for each other in the first place... and then they do so again by the end of the film.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_8ae880f7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_8ae880f7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_8ae880f7
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_8b68d9a7
type
Stalker with a Crush
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_8b68d9a7
comment
Stalker with a Crush: Discussed. Clem asks Joel if he is a stalker when he offers her a lift home from the metro. He replies that it was her coming on to him in the first place which she calls "the oldest trick in the stalker book". Patrick counts as a straight example. He is essentially seducing Clementine with passages from Joel's journals, and even gives her a present Joel had bought for Valentine's Day.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_8b68d9a7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_8b68d9a7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_8b68d9a7
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_8b6e8d7
type
Anachronic Order
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_8b6e8d7
comment
Anachronic Order: The film opens with Joel and Clementine meeting after having the procedure performed, though this isn't immediately apparent. A lot of the memories revisited during the erasure procedure are visited out of order, particularly when Joel starts fighting back in response; as a linear series of events, the good in Joel and Clementine's relationship is slowly extinguished and forgotten (providing the original motivation for the procedures in the first place).
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_8b6e8d7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_8b6e8d7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_8b6e8d7
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_94e4c8ab
type
Betty and Veronica
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_94e4c8ab
comment
Betty and Veronica: Though we never meet Naomi, Joel's live-in girlfriend when he first meets Clementine, through his descriptions of her we can infer she was a "nice" Girl Next Door, in contrast to Clementine's Manic Pixie Dream Girl (though she herself lampshades and subverts this about herself). Joel chooses Clementine, the "Veronica", over Naomi's "Betty".
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_94e4c8ab
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_94e4c8ab
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_94e4c8ab
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_967fb42a
type
Prolonged Prologue
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_967fb42a
comment
Prolonged Prologue: The opening credits appear 18 minutes into the film, at the end of the first reel.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_967fb42a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_967fb42a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_967fb42a
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_96fbeaf
type
There Are No Therapists
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_96fbeaf
comment
There Are No Therapists: Had Joel and Clementine gone to counselling of some kind, there would probably be no movie.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_96fbeaf
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_96fbeaf
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_96fbeaf
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_97926168
type
Rewatch Bonus
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_97926168
comment
Rewatch Bonus: Once you've watched the film once, your experience of the opening scene on the train will never be the same.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_97926168
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_97926168
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_97926168
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_9af54b9d
type
Double Take
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_9af54b9d
comment
Double Take: Clementine makes one just after Patrick gives her a gift stolen from the items Joel turned in. See Dead Person Impersonation above.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_9af54b9d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_9af54b9d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_9af54b9d
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_9c0dc5cd
type
Quick Nip
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_9c0dc5cd
comment
Quick Nip: At the Montauk restaurant Joel watches Clem spiking her coffee with spirit from a flask she brought with.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_9c0dc5cd
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_9c0dc5cd
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_9c0dc5cd
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_9c550e26
type
Word Salad Title
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_9c550e26
comment
Word Salad Title: It's actually a Literary Allusion Title, but without seeing it or knowing the source material, it sounds like randomly selected buzzwords.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_9c550e26
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_9c550e26
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_9c550e26
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_9d1aaafc
type
Lost Love Montage
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_9d1aaafc
comment
Lost Love Montage: Plot-justified, with the memory-erasing procedure causing Joel to relive his memories of Clementine and realize why he fell in love with her in the first place. As part of the Deconstruction, some downright bitter memories appear as well.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_9d1aaafc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_9d1aaafc
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_9d1aaafc
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_a8a04f6f
type
And I Must Scream
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_a8a04f6f
comment
And I Must Scream: It's not that the doctor won't stop... it's just that Joel can't tell him to. This especially applies when Joel "wills" himself conscious long enough to look at the assistants with desperation in his eyes (but cannot speak) as they drug him back to sleep.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_a8a04f6f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_a8a04f6f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_a8a04f6f
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ac448cdc
type
Van in Black
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ac448cdc
comment
Van in Black: Joel is suspicious of the van following him in front of his apartment. Little does he know that it belongs to Lacuna's Memory-Wiping Crew.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ac448cdc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ac448cdc
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ac448cdc
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_b2099693
type
Stargazing Scene
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_b2099693
comment
Stargazing Scene: Clementine takes Joel on a romantic trip onto a frozen lake where they lay down and watch the stars. Clementine asks Joel which constellations he knows but he doesn't know any, so he makes one up.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_b2099693
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_b2099693
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_b2099693
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_b7b66a89
type
Fantastic Romance
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_b7b66a89
comment
Fantastic Romance: A very unique example in that the "fantastic" elements influence the dispelling of a romance, where the love story ends up moving backwards, yet it otherwise counts: after going through a painful breakup, Joel opts to go through a procedure to erase his memories of the entire relationship, but as it occurs, he ends up going through a trippy mental journey remembering why he fell in love to begin with, desperately clinging to the memories of their relationship before it's gone forever.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_b7b66a89
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_b7b66a89
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_b7b66a89
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_b97c2cfb
type
Maybe Ever After
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_b97c2cfb
comment
Maybe Ever After: The movie ends with Joel and Clementine discovering that they erased each other. It's left ambiguous as to whether they'll give their relationship another go. They have been destructive in the past and it's likely it could end badly — as it would have in a different ending. But throughout the process, Joel realises he does love her and tries to prevent it, so it's possible they could have learned from their mistakes.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_b97c2cfb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_b97c2cfb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_b97c2cfb
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ba236071
type
It Makes Sense in Context
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ba236071
comment
It Makes Sense in Context: As with many Michel Gondry films, the film features a lot of bizarre, surreal imagery, but in this case it generally makes sense.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ba236071
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ba236071
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ba236071
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ba311c7c
type
Slip into Something More Comfortable
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ba311c7c
comment
Slip into Something More Comfortable: At the beach house Clem mentions "I'm gonna go find the bedroom and slip into something more ... Ruth".
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ba311c7c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ba311c7c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ba311c7c
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_bc00493f
type
Precision F-Strike
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_bc00493f
comment
Precision F-Strike:
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_bc00493f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_bc00493f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_bc00493f
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_bc74ef27
type
Berserk Button
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_bc74ef27
comment
Berserk Button: When Joel accuses Clementine of fucking people to get them to like her, she storms out of the apartment and officially breaks things off with him.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_bc74ef27
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_bc74ef27
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_bc74ef27
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_bd80925e
type
Forced Perspective
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_bd80925e
comment
The striking kitchen scene with Joel as a child was created with an elaborate Forced Perspective set-up similar to some used by Peter Jackson in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_bd80925e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_bd80925e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_bd80925e
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_bef696dd
type
Mind Screw
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_bef696dd
comment
Mind Screw: The memory-erasing procedure is this both for the characters and for the audience.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_bef696dd
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_bef696dd
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_bef696dd
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c00462c7
type
Amnesia Loop
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c00462c7
comment
Amnesia Loop: Invoked. People keep getting into the same bad relationships over and over, then have their memories wiped off.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c00462c7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c00462c7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c00462c7
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c322a093
type
A Bloody Mess
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c322a093
comment
A Bloody Mess: Joel uses a ketchup packet to "slit" his throat.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c322a093
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c322a093
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c322a093
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c3448a6f
type
Informed Attribute
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c3448a6f
comment
Informed Attribute: At the end of the film, when the audience hears the tape of Joel explaining why he wants to erase Clementine, he lists off several of her perceived flaws (among others, her poor vocabulary, her lack of education and how she thinks she can only get people to like her by having sex with them or dangling the possibility in front of them), none of which Clementine is ever seen possessing. That being said, Clementine gets particularly defensive about the last point and asserts that it isn't the case, suggesting that Joel may be something of an Unreliable Narrator. And when we hear Clementine's tape, the first thing she says about him is that he's "boring". By that point in the movie we've seen a number of scenes of the two of them having fun together. By the time each makes their tape, they're in the breakup phase, so they're probably exaggerating traits that may not have always bothered them or projecting their own insecurities on the other.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c3448a6f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c3448a6f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c3448a6f
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c39dd4d
type
Fade to White
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c39dd4d
comment
Fade to White: How the film ends.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c39dd4d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c39dd4d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c39dd4d
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c660bc15
type
Fan Disservice
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c660bc15
comment
Fan Disservice: At one point Clementine briefly strips down to her thong, but only to check a (very ugly) bruise she gave herself from slipping on ice.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c660bc15
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c660bc15
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c660bc15
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c75df49a
type
Shout-Out
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c75df49a
comment
Shout-Out: The film's title is a quote from Alexander Pope's "Eloisa to Abelard", a passage from which Mary recites to Howard. Mary also quotes Friedrich Nietzsche at one point.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c75df49a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c75df49a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c75df49a
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c7d86fbe
type
Plausible Deniability
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c7d86fbe
comment
Discussed. Clem asks Joel if he is a stalker when he offers her a lift home from the metro. He replies that it was her coming on to him in the first place which she calls "the oldest trick in the stalker book".
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c7d86fbe
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c7d86fbe
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c7d86fbe
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c972d624
type
Slut-Shaming
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c972d624
comment
Slut-Shaming: Joel doing this to Clementine is what prompts their break-up.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c972d624
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c972d624
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_c972d624
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_cd3703a2
type
Genre Mashup
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_cd3703a2
comment
Genre Mashup: A science-fiction romantic comedy-drama with some scenes that even border on psychological horror, most of which takes place inside the main character's head.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_cd3703a2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_cd3703a2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_cd3703a2
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ce75a983
type
Screw Destiny
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ce75a983
comment
Screw Destiny: We learn when we finish seeing the memory erasure that Joel managed to implant the suggestion to go back to Montauk despite the memory rewrite — and Clementine's appearance on the same train suggests that she may have done the same. Clementine also suggests that Joel invoke this trope when leaving the beach house by offering that he should stay. Joel however tells her that he can't go back because the memory of the house had already been erased.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ce75a983
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ce75a983
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ce75a983
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_cef6a167
type
Second Place Is for Losers
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_cef6a167
comment
Second Place Is for Losers: A Funny Background Event in the Lacuna offices has a client bringing with him a silver bowling trophy - evidently he found the memory of only coming in second in a bowling competition, rather than winning, too painful to bear.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_cef6a167
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_cef6a167
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_cef6a167
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_d05bc66b
type
Ripped from the Phone Book
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_d05bc66b
comment
Ripped from the Phone Book: Downplayed. In the last scene when Clem tracks down Joel at his apartment, we see her in the car holding a ripped out telephone page with Joel's address marked up.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_d05bc66b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_d05bc66b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_d05bc66b
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_d2355c26
type
Where Were You Last Night?
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_d2355c26
comment
Where Were You Last Night?: The last time Joel saw Clementine before she had him erased was when she stumbled in the door at 3 A.M. after drunkenly scraping his car against a fire hydrant. The fight coming from Joel's reaction was Clementine's impetus to the procedure.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_d2355c26
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_d2355c26
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_d2355c26
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_db6c69bb
type
Valentine's Day Vitriol
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_db6c69bb
comment
Valentine's Day Vitriol: Around the start of the film, Joel writes the following in his journal:
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_db6c69bb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_db6c69bb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_db6c69bb
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_dc579c91
type
Contrived Coincidence
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_dc579c91
comment
Contrived Coincidence: The unconscious Joel manages to piece together Patrick's relationship with Clementine and the deception he's used to win her over by overhearing a brief phone conversation between them.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_dc579c91
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_dc579c91
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_dc579c91
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_e0aed924
type
No Antagonist
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_e0aed924
comment
No Antagonist: Joel's challenge is how he can make the memory-wiping process stop. Although Stan is the one doing the wiping, he has no idea that Joel has changed his mind. Patrick is a Romantic False Lead at best and a perverted jerkass at worst. However, stealing memories (not to mention their underwear) from someone just to seduce them shows he's not exactly a man of good character.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_e0aed924
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_e0aed924
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_e0aed924
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_e6a5d84b
type
Fond Memories That Could Have Been
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_e6a5d84b
comment
Fond Memories That Could Have Been: A unique variation; when the wiping goes further back into Joel and Clem's relationship, Joel realizes how much he loved her and how happy they used to be. Since he's losing her forever by erasing his memories of her, he then tries to combat it.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_e6a5d84b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_e6a5d84b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_e6a5d84b
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_e7b0229a
type
Laser-Guided Amnesia
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_e7b0229a
comment
Laser-Guided Amnesia: Well, computer-guided really...
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_e7b0229a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_e7b0229a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_e7b0229a
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_e7fd5cdc
type
Brain Bleach
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_e7fd5cdc
comment
Brain Bleach: Deconstructed Trope through Lacuna Inc's memory wipe procedure: the film thoroughly explores the ramifications of the trope and whether one would even want to carry it out if it was available.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_e7fd5cdc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_e7fd5cdc
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_e7fd5cdc
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f275ee5f
type
Dead Sparks
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f275ee5f
comment
Dead Sparks: We first meet Joel and Clem when they are at the Dead Sparks stage of the relationship. The rest of the movie is about how they ignited those sparks in the first place and ends with the hope that they could be reignited.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f275ee5f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f275ee5f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f275ee5f
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f5c92fe0
type
Amnesiac Lover
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f5c92fe0
comment
Amnesiac Lover: Clementine with Patrick, who uses Joel's file to win her over. She gets progressively more disturbed the more he sounds like Joel. Joel himself borders into this as well when the remnants of his memory drive him back to her. Mary for Dr. Mierzwiak. In the deleted scenes it's revealed he pressured her into aborting his baby.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f5c92fe0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f5c92fe0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f5c92fe0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f604f64b
type
Dude, She's Like in a Coma
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f604f64b
comment
Dude, She's Like in a Coma: Stan says this almost verbatim to Patrick after he tells him he stole a pair of Clem's panties. There's an awkward silence before they both break out laughing.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f604f64b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f604f64b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f604f64b
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f7883b17
type
Love Makes You Dumb
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f7883b17
comment
Love Makes You Dumb: One of the explanations why Joel and Clem fall for each other again and again, though knowing that their relationship was bound to fail.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f7883b17
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f7883b17
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f7883b17
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f7eda5d8
type
Snow Means Love
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f7eda5d8
comment
Snow Means Love: A lot of Joel and Clementine's happy memories take place in a snowy place, particularly on the frozen lake (two entire scenes and the film's poster). Patrick basically tries to steal this trope from Joel and force it onto Clem to no avail. The film drives the point home with last shot being of the two joyfully running on the beach as it starts to snow.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f7eda5d8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f7eda5d8
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f7eda5d8
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f85d3c1e
type
Sequencing Deception
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f85d3c1e
comment
Sequencing Deception: The first scene, where Joel goes out to Montauk and meets Clementine, actually takes place after most of the events in the rest of the film, right after Joel's memories are completely erased.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f85d3c1e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f85d3c1e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f85d3c1e
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f9f2c33
type
Running Gag
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f9f2c33
comment
Joel's choice adjective is "nice". This crops up as a common conversation piece, as a plot point (where Patrick's accidental use freaks out Clementine as it makes her vaguely remember what was erased), and it even appears as a Running Gag:
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f9f2c33
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f9f2c33
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_f9f2c33
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_faa71569
type
Romantic False Lead
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_faa71569
comment
Patrick is a Romantic False Lead at best and a perverted jerkass at worst. However, stealing memories (not to mention their underwear) from someone just to seduce them shows he's not exactly a man of good character.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_faa71569
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_faa71569
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_faa71569
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_fafad2a2
type
Relationship Reboot
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_fafad2a2
comment
Relationship Reboot: Joel and Clem literally wipe the slate clean... if by "slate" you mean "the memories of their romance". Mary turns out to have tried this with Dr. Mierzwiak as well.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_fafad2a2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_fafad2a2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_fafad2a2
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_fd5f23a7
type
Skyward Scream
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_fd5f23a7
comment
Skyward Scream: When Joel starts reliving happy memories, and tries to call off the wipe.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_fd5f23a7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_fd5f23a7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_fd5f23a7
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_fdbdc112
type
Practical Effects
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_fdbdc112
comment
Practical Effects: Virtually all of the most bizarre and fascinating scenes in this movie were created with old-fashioned camera, editing, lighting and prop/set tricks. The use of digital effects was very limited. The striking kitchen scene with Joel as a child was created with an elaborate Forced Perspective set-up similar to some used by Peter Jackson in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The rising water in the beach house was created by building a house by the beach and waiting for the tide to come in. Many of the "erased" book spines in the bookstore scene are just books turned around so that they are spine-in instead of spine-out. Clementine performing a Teleport Spam around Joel's apartment is actually Kate Winslet using hidden passages to get from one room to the other; that scene is done in one shot.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_fdbdc112
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_fdbdc112
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_fdbdc112
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_fe0330fb
type
Brick Joke
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_fe0330fb
comment
Brick Joke: In their break-up scene, Clementine comes in drunk saying she may have damaged the car. After their blazing row and her storming out, Joel follows her. When he tries to drive after her, he has to remove the car from a fire hydrant. When Clementine and Joel meet at the start of the movie, she asks him not to joke about "Huckleberry Hound", and he doesn't know it because it's been erased from his memory. When we see their true first meeting, the song is the first thing Joel says when he hears her name.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_fe0330fb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_fe0330fb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_fe0330fb
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ff2ceef1
type
Old Maid
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ff2ceef1
comment
Old Maid: At one point Clementine freaks out and says, "I'm getting old". Kate Winslet was around twenty seven when the film was made.
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ff2ceef1
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ff2ceef1
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_ff2ceef1
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_name
type
ItemName
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_name
comment
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_name
featureApplicability
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_name
featureConfidence
1.0
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_name
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind / int_name
itemName
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 EternalSunshineoftheSpotlessMind
sameAs
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
A Bloody Mess / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Amnesia Loop / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Amnesia Missed a Spot / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Amnesiac Lover / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Amnesiac Resonance / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Anachronic Order / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Back to Front / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Beta Couple / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Brain Bleach / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Caught with Your Pants Down / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Cure Your Gays / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Dead Sparks / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Dude, She's Like in a Coma / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Dueling Dubs / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Dye Hard / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Fan-Preferred Cut Content / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Fictional Constellations / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Fond Memories That Could Have Been / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Hard-Drinking Party Girl / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
In Medias Res / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Introverted Chick Magnet / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Just Train Wrong / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Kaleidoscope Hair / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Laser-Guided Amnesia / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Literary Allusion Title / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Lost Love Montage / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Manic Pixie Dream Girl / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Maybe Ever After / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Mental Story / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Never Heard That One Before / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Nonconformist Dyed Hair / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Not-So-Small Role / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Once More, with Clarity / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Panty Thief / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Pensieve Flashback / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Prolonged Prologue / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Quick Nip / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Relationship Reboot / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Relationship Reset Button / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Ripped from the Phone Book / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Romantic Comedy / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Sci-Fi Ghetto / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Seamless Scenery / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Sequencing Deception / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Snow Means Love / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Stargazing Scene / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Stock Trailer Music / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
The Blank / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
The Fantastic Trope of Wonderous Titles / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
The Teaser / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Uptight Loves Wild / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Valentine's Day Vitriol / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Where Were You Last Night? / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Wistful Amnesia / int_8ae673e5
 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
hasFeature
Memory-Wiping Crew / int_8ae673e5