What do you think the filmmakers are trying to achieve in each scene through their choice of these different editing conventions?Explain

ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (2004)

Description

While watching Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), pay special attention to the shot-to-shot relations that have been this week’s primary focus: graphic relations, rhythmic relations, spatial relations, and temporal relations. When do these relationships between shots enhance continuity (similarity) and when do they create discontinuity (conflict or contrast)?

Director Michel Gondry relies especially heavily on manipulations of space and time (spatial and temporal relations) to develop the film’s nonlinear narrative and its exploration of protagonist Joel Barish’s memories and mental states.

Yet, despite the film’s disjointed narrative and use of this more subjective editing style, Eternal Sunshine still adheres to many of the established norms of the continuity editing system. Importantly, continuity and discontinuity editing are tendencies along a continuum that can be used whenever the narrative of the film calls for either of them.

For your Eternal Sunshine Screening Journal entry, analyze the film’s mixture of these continuity and discontinuity editing approaches by comparing and contrasting at least one scene of continuity editing and one scene of discontinuity editing.

What do you think the filmmakers are trying to achieve in each scene through their choice of these different editing conventions?

Instructions:

Your journal entry must be between 250 and 500 words long. Do not summarize the film’s story or premise; focus on making an original, concentrated analysis.

Choose only a couple key points to discuss, and examine them in close detail.

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