Christopher Nolan's Memento (2000) is the archetypal "puzzle film," a noir thriller about a man with short-term memory loss who seeks revenge for the death of his wife. Truth, memory, and identity are all questioned in a story that refuses to give easy answers or adhere to the fundamental rules of classical filmmaking. The film makes use of audacious stylistic and narrative choices, including a unique editing pattern that produces a dizzying and highly disorienting effect.
This book positions Memento as an important independent film and uses it to explore relationships between independent, arthouse, and commercial mainstream cinema. It also examines independent film marketing practices, especially those associated with Newmarket, the film's producer and distributor. Finally, the book situates Memento within debates on key concepts such as genre, narrative, and reception.
