Memory is a film that deals with past problems that remain and the life going forward that is yet to navigate. It shows that moments of the past can raise their heads to bring out the worst in people’s lives. It also explores the different sides from various angles centered around a conflict. Memory is a film about channeling anger. Director Michel Franco brings his audience into a world where choices led to consequences and how they have evolved as time went on. Memory is true to its story and its direction as details come into play. It displays that there is still good that can be done regardless of what was done in the past.

The film is centered on a woman named Sylvia, played by Jessica Chastain. She is dealing with past issues of substance abuse and a whole range of other problems. She has a daughter named Anna, played by Brooke Timber. Sylvia is a social worker in a daycare for adults with learning disabilities. She helps people who are incapable every day. She is also trying to reconcile a difficult relationship with her Anna as well as tryingto grow closer to her sister Olivia. Olivia is played by Merritt Wever. Sylvia is introverted due to her emotions. She decides to come out of her shell and attend her high school reunion. As she walks back from her reunion, an odd gentleman follows her back home. This gentleman, Saul, is played by Peter Saarsgard. At first, Sylvia is confused by Saul’s presence. She gets in touch with his brother Isaac, played by Josh Charles, and learns that Saul has dementia. From Sylvia’s realization, she sees that Saul is also having trouble adapting to life due to past problems and mental health issues.

The writing and dialogue feel a bit generic at the start of the film. The melancholy vibe if the directorial style seems appropriate for Memory. There is the concept that after dealing with hard times its main characters do not have much to say. What they do have to do though, is to deal with the reality of the present. Franco’s directing is faithful in this portrait of a drama that is one-of-a-kind.

The correlation of conflicts that lies beneath the surface for both Sylvia and Saul creates connections of empathy in Memory. The melancholy feeling of Memory is a landscape of human emotions. Despite both Sylvia and Saul dealing with their detrimental scenarios, they learn to reassess their lives. That is because of their shared past. They went to the same high school and have had underlying problems that they have carried with them forever. Despite their rough history and troubling conflicts, Sylvia looks after Saul on a regular basis. They spend time together and build a relationship, but is their growing relationship because of their vulnerability?

There is also that side of Sylvia showing deeper concerns for her daughter. Her daughter has that attitude of being hateful and vindictive, because of how much her mother shelters her. As Sylvia navigates her errors with her daughter, she sees more growth with helping Saul. As Sylvia gains clarity, she begins to care seriously about her daughter’s secretive behavior. Anna is distraught at how her mother has rules and how she feels her life is in turmoil. The dynamics of Memory are vast with problems going from one individual to the other. It is hard for Sylvia, Anna, and Saul to keep their heads high, but all they can do is try. It is a more difficult struggle for Saul than it is for Sylvia. Sylvia can support herself financially, but Saul cannot. The past and mental health problems impact him the most.

It is an experience where any human can feel rough emotions from the past at any time in their life. Anna finds herself distraught with her mother’s silence—it is belittling and condescending with layers of detrimental conflicts. The lighting in the film is neutral—that is in juxtaposition to the dynamic between Sylvia and Saul in Memory. The truth of Sylvia’s problems is a harrowing past that is unforgivable. Sylvia and Saul are fall in love simply because they feel there is no one else to care for them. Those who are in their lives only remind them of their failures.

Memory is not an experience of happiness. There is a neutral quality throughout the film meant to enhance its sense of reality. The eerie and quiet feeling displays the emotion of a loving heart. The performances of Chastain and Saarsgard is a revelation of humanistic nature, and it is a ride of mixed feelings that keeps its audience thinking about the human condition thoroughly. Three and a half out of four stars for Memory.