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Screen & Stage • Film

Memento

Memento is a 2000 American neo-noir psychological thriller film written and directed by Christopher Nolan.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Memento is a 2000 American neo-noir psychological thriller written and directed by Christopher Nolan. It follows a man with anterograde amnesia who uses notes, photos, and tattoos to investigate his wife's murder.

What it is

Memento is a neo-noir psychological thriller released in 2000. It was written and directed by Christopher Nolan, based on "Memento Mori" by Jonathan Nolan. The film stars Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Joe Pantoliano.

Key details

The story centres on Leonard Shelby, who has anterograde amnesia and uses Polaroids, handwritten notes, and tattoos to track information he cannot retain. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 5, 2000, and opened in U.S. theatres on March 16, 2001. It earned about $40 million against a $9 million budget.

Why it matters

Memento is widely noted for its unusual narrative structure and helped establish Christopher Nolan as a major filmmaker. It remains one of the best-known examples of a non-linear thriller and is often screened, studied, and discussed in Canadian film contexts.

In short

  • Neo-noir psychological thriller released in 2000.
  • Directed by Christopher Nolan, based on a story by Jonathan Nolan.
  • Stars Guy Pearce as a man with anterograde amnesia.
  • Earned $40 million on a $9 million budget.
Canadian angle

Christopher Nolan later became an internationally prominent filmmaker with a strong Canadian theatrical audience, and Memento is often screened, studied, and discussed in Canadian film contexts as an influential example of nonlinear storytelling.

Quick questions

What is Memento?
Memento is a 2000 American neo-noir psychological thriller film directed by Christopher Nolan.
Who stars in Memento?
The film stars Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Joe Pantoliano.
What is Memento based on?
It is based on "Memento Mori," a short story by Jonathan Nolan.

Sources

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento_(film)
    Supports: Release year, director, cast, plot premise, premiere date, U.S. release date, and box office summary.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannicahttps://www.britannica.com/topic/Memento
    Supports: Identification of Memento as a 2000 film by Christopher Nolan.
  3. Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/memento
    Supports: Genre, release information, runtime, and synopsis.
  4. IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0209144/
    Supports: Runtime, cast, and general film description.