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How do you handle challenges in your relationships? What role do memories play in our personal growth?

Licensed therapist Jonathan Decker and filmmaker Alan Seawright take a look at Joel and Clementine's relationship in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. They talk about some of the things that went wrong in their relationship, how they could have handled their conflicts and differences better, the desire to hide from our painful memories, and the great filmmaking techniques, especially in the memory sequences. And of course the great performances from Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey.

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Comments

Frankie Doodle

One of my favourite movies of all time.

SaucyJTB

Someone needs to hug Jono for me. Some people, like Jono, love love because they grow up seeing it in real life and in media and want it for themselves. Some others, like me, love love because they didn't see it at all when growing up in real life, but saw it in media, and wanted to know what it's like. Either way, it's easy to fall into desperation. So, yes, Jono. All the hugs. Alan, you don't ruin movies by explaining how filming magic is done. I've started watching more of the director's cut versions because I noticed that you have more screen time in these. Passionate geek moments are wonderful, and I think it's fantastic. You guys work great together, and it's a joy to see.

Capt. Reynolds

Jono is talking about the fact that every memory, good and bad, makes up a part of who we are, and then later goes on to talk about how his wife accepts the part of him that is not her favorite part about him, because she accepts that it’s a package deal. The ideal or goal is to strive to feel that way about ourselves…in my case, to accept ALL of the things that make me “me”…. I’m just not there, and this is another episode that brought in the water works because I’m happy for Jono, and at the same time, sad that I can’t seem to get there myself.

Wendy's Lost Boys

I didn’t notice the book titles vanishing either, makes this movie even better.

B

I remember seeing this movie right after I got out of a toxic 4 year relationship and just sobbing. I related to wanting to literally erase someone from your brain in that moment. I actually relate to wanting to BE that manic pixie dream girl for a long time when I was younger. Speaking of, would LOVE to see a video on Garden State!

Smeeson

Coming in late to this, I just wanted to point out that the manic pixie dream girl trope is based on autistic women, so while the trope itself is bad, because these guys use these women to give their lives meaning, women like that do just exist on their own, not for the pleasure of other people. I absolutely go out everyday as a manic pixie dream girl, have guys fall in love with me because I'm lively and different and it's... Not great. Anyway, just wanted to make sure that was known.