Memento’s Murderous Memory Malfunction Film reflects life in this top-rated Christopher Nolan film, where a man afflicted with amnesia continues a streak of murders in order to satisfy his fascination with an unfortunate accident. Throughout the film viewers recognize trademark symptoms of anterograde amnesia— the inability to formulate new memories—and it is up to them to decide whether this deficit is organic or psychogenic. The treatment of psychogenic amnesia is not perfect or well-studied (Cassel & Humphreys, 2015) but by reviewing the literature, a successful treatment plan can emerge.
Synopsis
Memento follows the unfortunate tale of Leonard Shelby after he experiences a head injury that left him unable to retain short-term memories. He awoke in the night to find an assailant who had raped and
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The realization that the condition is mental as opposed to physical could bring him out of his symptomology as long as he does not come to this conclusion with denial and anger, as he does in the film. He reacts in such a way because Teddy’s delivery was harsh and unfiltered which would be unwarranted in a therapeutic setting. Once Leonard does come to this realization, Clarke (2012) asserts that he would then confront himself, his condition, and what this condition has led him to do (corroborate in the murder of an unknown number of mostly innocent individuals). He would also need to face the fact that he will not be able to bring his wife back to life; the final scene in the movie shows him in bed with his wife and a tattoo stating “I’ve done it” over his heart. This fantasy at the end of the movie could imply that continuing down this path will never get him the satisfaction of being with his wife again. Intervention is necessary for him to become relieved of his guilt and to minimize his