M E M E N T O

C A M E R A W O R K

S H O T S

• Mainly close ups and extreme close ups

• Places emphasis on key symbols

• Creates a sense of tension as the viewer isn’t sure what the images represent

• However, we use our own cultural connotations to assume things about the film—our assumptions allow Nolan to effectively execute his ‘twist’

Nolan uses this close up alongside

the reverse time shot to represent

Leonard’s Disease. Like this polaroid, his memories fade

as the scene continues.

M O V E M E N T

• Most shots are still

• However, Nolan uses craning and tilting to add suspension

• The viewer has to wait to see who’s holding the polaroid

Nolan creates suspense through

panning up to reveal Leonard’s face. This

also allows the viewer to create their own associations with

Leonard’s clothing and actions with the

polaroid, before revealing the man behind the action.

M I S - E N - S C E N E

L I G H T I N G

• Darkly lit

• Typical of thriller films

• Adds to the suspense as it’s more difficult to see what’s happening

• Adds an air of illegality and of secrecy to the opening sequence

The shot is tilted vertically, and the blood seems to run upwards in this shot. This once again

emphasises Leonard’s condition, and also blatantly reveals the violence, and the distortion of

Leonard’s memories and opinions—due to his disease.

P R O P S

• Montage of several key props

• Polaroids, Bullet, glasses, the dead person

• Creates a sense of tension because of our associations with these items

• Polaroids: documentation

• Bullet: death, guns, violence

• Glasses: intelligence, helplessness—hint at the fact that the man is actually innocent

• The dead person’s face cannot be seen—a mystery as we don’t know who has been shot

The Bullet represents violence, death, and the

process of rebirth for Leonard

The glasses represent how Leonard destroys

knowledge through killing his victim

The victim’s identity is hidden—which adds to the

enigma

C H A R A C T E R

• Leonard is wearing a suit

• Contrasts to his surroundings

• Tension created by this juxtaposition

• Nolan is implying that Leonard shouldn’t be in this type of environment—killing the wrong man

Leonard’s suit is disparate with his surroundings, the viewer associates suits with businesses, and wealth,

which contrasts to the grime and darkness of the setting of the opening scene.

E D I T I N G

C O N T I N U I T Y

• Non-linear narration is used—the events in the opening sequence occur at the ‘end’ of the linear timeline

• Shot in reverse

• Adds to the tension as the viewer is curious about what has happened that has led to the death of the unknown man

• Contributes to the theme of amnesia and Leonard’s disease

• Like the polaroid, Leonard’s memories also fade instead of developing

The opening is shot in reverse, to distort, and

confuse the viewer.

Nolan also employs non-linear narration to create a

sense of suspense, as viewers constantly wonder how events culminated to this, and create our own

assumptions to fill in these blanks

PA C E

• Majority of the opening sequence is a film developing backwards

• The image is grotesque—the dead man’s head

• Slow paced, and calm

• Juxtaposed with the moderately fast pace of the shooting in reverse

• Creates tension as the viewer is lulled into a false sense of security

S O U N D

N O N - D I E G E T I C S O U N D

• Starts with deep, non-diegetic music

• Is sustained and slow—lulls the viewer into comfort

• Music remains moderately slow throughout the opening sequence—contrasts to the distressing images on the screen

• The killer is calm—unsettles the viewer

• Sound effect of the gun going off—creates a sense of tension because of the contrast to the music used