Here are the second round of amnesia movies meant specifically for your viewing pleasure.

Archangel

Archangel (1990) is directed by Guy Maddin, a Canadian, whose love of the surreal and 1920s cinema are wed with astonishing results. During this period, Maddin’s budgets were still very small, but his visionary style is bountiful and profound.

This surrealist melodramatic comedy takes place at the end of WWI in Russia, where news of the war’s end has not reached the still fighting soldiers. The protagonist is without his leg and much of his memory, as he mistakenly identifies a woman as his dead lover. The drama is compounded, because her husband also suffers from amnesia.

Memento

Memento (2000) is directed by Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight). Fantastically original, the psychological thriller is mostly told in reverse order. Leonard has anterograde amnesia, which means that his memory loss continues after the original amnesia. To solve the mystery of his wife’s murder, he tattoos discovered clues on his very person. Nolan’s approach really heightens the mystery in his second feature, Memento.

Random Harvest

Random Harvest (1942) is directed by Mervyn LeRoy. An institutionalized WWI soldier has lost his memory and his former identity. He escapes to meet the love of his life but remains a stranger to his former self and family. Random Harvest contemplates selective memory and its effects on those involved. It also puts a wife’s love to the test when she chooses to do what is best for her husband.

Until next time, I hope you have a great viewing experience.  Comments are welcomed at cinespire@gmail.com.