REVIEW: While moving, ‘Memory’ often feels distant

When there’s hardships aplenty, sometimes a human connection is what can get a person through.

Writer and director Michel Franco’s new film “Memory” shows just that, as two broken people find each other and form a relationship. The film opens by introducing Sylvia, a single mother and recovering alcoholic who works in an adult care home. While she’s been sober for years and able to manage her daily life, she still deals from trauma in her past.

The movie picks up with her meeting a man, Saul (Peter Sarsgaard), who has early onset dementia. This leads to their first encounters being difficult, but as time goes on, they grow closer. While the relationship brings them some happiness, though, there are still struggles for both.

To its credit, “Memory” is a film that explores the human condition on a deep level. Franco digs into the internal feelings of the characters while also analyzing familial bonds, as well as the ties that bind romantic partners. The lived experiences of each character feels reel, and the film contains several powerful interactions full of emotions. It all strengthens the movie.

However, there are also several sequences that leave a viewer feeling cold. Franco takes a very observational approach to the movie, and while this adds a rawness to the picture, it also makes the experience feel distant. As a result, it’s is never as gripping as a viewer wants it to be.

There’s also the issue that Franco adds more drama to the plot than needed. One character is suffering with dementia and another is a single mother who’s dealt with alcoholism in her past.

There’s plenty there already for an effective drama about people with difficult lives. But Franco adds in something in the film’s first act that felt unnecessary, and makes Sylvia an unreliable narrator. The result is a film that can feel overdramatic, messy and leave an audience detached.

It’s unfortunate, because there are some stunning performances featured in the film. Chastain is absolutely at the top of her game here, fantastically portraying her character’s struggling emotional state. It’s a reserved performance. Even when dialogue is light, Chastain is saying a lot.

Just as good is Sarsgaard, who is exceptional playing a man whose illness has made it difficult to connect with people. Saul is a kind, friendly individual who wants to keep living and have human connections, but is also reluctant because of his dementia. That complexity of character is convincing thanks to Sarsgaard.

“Memory” is also a rather moody film thanks to its appearance. Visually, there’s a dreariness that reflects the hardships the characters have gone through. It’s not the most visually memorable film of 2023, but it certainly has an identity.

There is a lot to appreciate in “Memory” when it comes to the acting and many of the character interactions. As an experience, though, it always feels like there’s a degree of separation present. 3 out of 5.