Memory: A Tender Tale of Connection and Resilience
Sarah (Jessica Chastain), a recovering alcoholic, attends AA meetings, works at a social services center, and single-handedly raises her teenage daughter, Anna (Brooke Timber). The loss of her husband years ago still casts a long shadow. One evening, Sarah reluctantly attends her high school reunion, finding little joy in the forced nostalgia. As she heads home, she notices a peculiar, bearded man following her. He spends the entire night outside her building, and the next morning, she discovers his name is Saul (Peter Sarsgaard). Saul is struggling with dementia. Sarah agrees to visit Saul during the day for a fee, and an unexpected bond begins to form between them.
Jessica Chastain as Sylvia in a still from “Memory”
“Memory” is directed by Michel Franco, a Mexican filmmaker who, unlike his compatriots Alejandro González Iñárritu, Alfonso Cuarón, and Guillermo del Toro, has resisted the lure of Hollywood, choosing instead to continue crafting introspective, festival-worthy dramas. The film premiered in the main competition at the Venice Film Festival the previous year, where Peter Sarsgaard won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor. Franco is a director of varied and unpredictable output. He often focuses on quiet family dramas, but his filmography also includes the expressive dystopian thriller “New Order” and the bizarre odyssey of a wealthy man seeking escape in “Sundown.” He is a filmmaker constantly in search of his artistic voice.
With “Memory,” Franco returns to his signature genre: unhurried stories about wounded individuals. Sarah carries the scars of childhood domestic abuse at the hands of her father. Compounding the trauma, her mother (Jessica Harper) refused to believe her, and her younger sister, Olivia (Merritt Wever), remained uninvolved. These experiences fueled Sarah’s struggles with alcohol and her deep-seated fear of intimacy. Her home is a fortress, secured with multiple locks, and she shields her daughter Anna from dating and social gatherings. Saul, on the other hand, enjoyed a happy marriage until his wife’s passing, followed by the onset of dementia. Now, living with his brother Isaac (Josh Charles), he feels like a burden and avoids venturing outside.
Peter Sarsgaard as Saul in a still from “Memory”
A Delicate Dance of Connection
Franco could easily be accused of manipulation. “Memory” tells the story of a connection between a recovering single mother and a widower grappling with dementia. It sounds like a surefire formula for a prestigious European film festival. Add to that the presence of Hollywood stars in the lead roles. However, the director avoids sensationalizing the characters’ traumas, introducing unnecessary dramatic twists, or forcing tears from the audience. Life is already difficult enough, and both Saul and Sarah are accustomed to hardship. Franco frequently employs close-ups, observing the pair with tenderness, yet wary of disrupting the delicate harmony of their burgeoning relationship. He adopts an intimate and sincere tone, which is ultimately captivating.
Jessica Chastain as Sylvia in a still from “Memory”
Sarah only confronts her past abuse when she encounters her estranged mother, while Saul actively avoids discussing his illness. He now struggles to remember recent events, making it difficult to follow the plot of a movie. Yet, the pair finds solace in simply sitting together, watching television. Saul hasn’t felt this comfortable with anyone in a long time.
Finding Light in the Shadows
Franco meticulously portrays the realities of living with dementia. Memory falters, disorientation can strike at any moment, and even recalling the names of familiar faces becomes a challenge. However, Saul refuses to succumb to despair, facing his condition with a wry smile and self-deprecating humor. It seems to be the only effective remedy against an incurable disease. Sarah desperately needs someone like Saul in her life, someone she can trust without fearing for her safety. This unconventional pair complements each other perfectly.
The poignant “Memory” can be described as a modern social fairy tale, even though the film’s palette is predominantly muted grays and the majority of the scenes unfold within the confines of New York apartments. From almost the very beginning, it’s clear that Saul and Sarah are destined to be together, but the author is more interested in showcasing their inner strength, their determination to keep fighting, and their pursuit of happiness. And it’s simply heartwarming to witness smiles gracing the faces of these long-suffering characters.
Middle-aged loners are drawn to each other because they deeply understand each other’s struggles. Saul and Sarah don’t even need many words. There’s no judgment, anger, resentment, or accusations, only acceptance. Isn’t the meeting of two almost-broken people a true miracle? Don’t Sarah and Saul deserve happiness? One can only hope that such love stories are possible not only on the silver screen.