Remember

Remember

 (2015)

A Review by Grant Kanigan

Directed by: Atom Egoyan

Written by: Benjamin August

Starring: Christopher Plummer, Martin Landau

              Dean Norris

Rating: 14A

Release Date: October 23, 2015 (Limited)

Christopher Plummer as Zev in Remember
Image Source

     The Holocaust is the darkest moment in human history. Countless lives and cultures were snuffed out by ignorance, hatred and greed; by the majority in power, abusing the trust of the innocent to further their sinister goals. As someone who has been to Dachau, and studied many aspects of the Second World War, I haven't come close to discovering 'why.' Besides Adolf Hitler's insanity and small man complex, I don't know if there truly is a 'why'. Yet, there is a 'how', and much like Hannah Arendt insists on her famous non-fiction book Eichmann in Jerusalem: The Banality of Evil, the Holocaust wasn't the fault of one man, but a nation of people, made up of individuals, each of whom have specific blood on their hands. Through willfully turning a blind eye to the atrocities that were happening literally next door, (Dachau is surrounded by homes and people, and is ten miles from Munich), the Nazis were able to fulfill a great deal of their 'Final Solution.' It was a slow march towards the complete destruction of the human soul, like the proverbial frog in slowly boiling water. Whether it was through a wilful ignorance/'the banality of evil' or complete awareness of one's actions, those who perpetrated the Holocaust must be made to account for their actions, and face the consequences. Atom Egoyan's Remember suggests just that.

     Remember follows 86 year old Holocaust survivor Zev Gutman, (Christopher Plummer); recently widowed and living in a retirement home. He suffers from dementia, which is not enough to force him into serious care, but bad enough that he can't live on his own. It's not long before we discover Gutman, who was able to raise a family post-WWII, has been having semi-secret meetings with fellow Holocaust survivor and retirement home resident Max Rosenbaum, (Martin Landau). The two both discover they lost their families at Auschwitz, and through careful research, Rosenbaum has discovered the general who killed their families is still alive, and living in America. Narrowing the Nazi down to four different men who have changed their names to Rudy Kurlander, Rosenbaum has carefully planned a trip to discover the killer and end his life. Rosenbaum would do it himself, but he's a year older than Zev, and is confined to a wheelchair. With Max's able mind and Zev's able body, Zev embarks on a journey that can only end in blood. 

     At face value, Remember is already a thrilling and complex tale of revenge, yet as the story unfolds, it becomes more and more complex, like a labyrinthian mystery devised in the mind of Hitchcock. Always forgetting where he is, the only thing that ties Zev to his mission is the lengthy letter of instruction given to him by Max. It becomes apparent that Zev not only can't remember everything about his current life, but that he can't forget about what happened in his past. Quick glances at a hotel shower-head, rail-cars, or the sight of a German-Shepherd leave Zev uneasy and terrified. PTSD is a hell of a disorder, and some mental/emotional scars never quite heal. By framing the holocaust in the mind of a dementia sufferer, both Atom Egoyan and writer Benjamin August seem to suggest that time will always make us forgetful, but there are some moments that we should not, (and cannot), forget. 

     To reveal any more of the story from here, (although it does deserve deeper exploration), would be a disservice to those who have not seen the film. It's a twisted, poignant and heavy film, but an absolutely worthwhile effort. Not only is the script one of the most clever in years, but so are the performances. Christopher Plummer, who is a living legend, likely gives the best performance of his career. Winning an Academy Award for his fantastic work in the well-intentioned Beginners, Plummer has wowed audiences for nearly half a century. With performances in The Last Station, Up, A Beautiful Mind, Twelve Monkeys, Malcolm X and the unforgettable Sound of Music, Plummer has proved himself to be one of the all time greats. With Remember and Danny Collins just last year, he's proved that talent has no age. As a dementia sufferer burdened by horrible memories, (long term memory lasts a lot longer than short term as dementia progresses), he's pitch perfect. Landau, too, in a smaller role, is effective in a short but important series of scenes, as well as Dean Norris. Norris, of Breaking Bad fame proves his worth playing an angry, explosive and impotent little man in just a short time period. Like Alec Baldwin in Glengarry Glen Ross, Norris leaves a lasting impact in what's really an extended cameo. Yet, none of these performances would be well rounded without good direction. 

     Atom Egoyan, a Western Canadian, made a name for himself with his 1997 film The Sweet Hereafter, which netted him two Academy Award nominations. To be honest, this was the first time he popped up on my radar, but thank god for that. After seeing this film, I understand why Canadian cinema has always been so abuzz whenever Egoyan's name is mentioned. In Remember, Egoyan doesn't let the performances get too over the top when they could turn into a cheap imitation of vengeance and mental illness, and instead plays them close to home. The mixture of a dark, suspenseful score, and rich cinematography, too, make Remember have a lasting impact. 

     Overall, Remember is one of the best films of 2015 and is a brilliant statement on the lasting scars of the Holocaust; somehow able to balance both a thrilling film and an intelligent commentary on the human condition regarding our response to wrongdoing. Whip-smart writing, heart wrenching performances and swift direction all create a potent cinematic mixture that reminds us we can run from whatever demons haunt us, except for those that live in our memories.

GRANT'S RATING: 5/5 STARS

Remember: Official Trailer

   

NOTE: Remember is available now on DVD/Blu-Ray, iTunes and VOD