Scene from Memento

My chosen scene is from the film Memento directed by Christopher Nolan. Overall as a whole, the way Memento was very interesting in that it is based around the concept of discontinuity editing which I have not seen a lot of in films. Memento used scenes in colour that have a sequence of events that occur in reverse chronological order whilst inserts of black and white scenes told backstories and information on who the protagonist Leonard is in a chronological order was unique and an interesting way of telling a story to me and well expressed Leonard’s condition of his short term memory. 

One of the scenes that stuck out to me that well expressed Leonard psychology and really brought me into his world and perspective was the scene where Leonard attacks Natalie but cannot remember shortly after what he did. The scene opens with Leonard sitting on Natalie’s couch and is oblivious and confused as to why Natalie is stressed. The pacing of this part in the scene is cut with the camera moving quickly following Natalie circulating the living room and made me feel like I am confused with Leonard as to what is happening. What is interesting to me as well is how the camera follows Natalie taking the pens to prevent Leonard from writing down what happens due to his short term memory loss but that comes to Leonards realisation later on.  

As Natalie gets angrier, the rhythm changes as shot takes become a bit longer especially in the over the shoulder shots of Natalie venting. These shot compositions then nicely transition and match to Natalie circulating Leonard with the camera slowly zooms in on Natalie criticising Leonard helping create and replicate a claustrophobic and more intense atmosphere that Leonard is in. 

The sequence of shots afterwards when Natalie walks outside changes to shot with a shaky camera movement as Leonard tries to find a pen to write down what happened. The change in pacing of the shots not as steady and controlled as before to me symbolised and reflected on the chaos and urgency of Leonard trying his best to not forget what has happened.  

Another part of the scene I found to stand out was the cuts between Lenny looking out the window to Natalie and her looking through the window as if she is breaking the fourth wall. This really to me I found was quite abstract in the scene as there is no really other shot like it but is effective in situating the audience in the perspective of the protagonist watching Natalie being psychologically manipulative in waiting for Leonard to forget then looping back to the narrative convention of Memento of the scene unveiling an answer to a question brought up in what was shown before.