Comments on: Explaining the Movie Remainder Might Hurt A Little

By: Chris Tyler

Chris Tyler — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 04:12:11 +0000

Just watched the movie, love your thoughts on it and I would add that it reminded me most of the philosophical idea of eternal recurrence (not to be confused with the similar idea of reincarnation), where after you die you are brought right back to the moment of your birth to re-live your life again, which parallels the movie in that, similar to a baby, he has to re-learn everything (to walk, to talk, to write, etc…). The theory goes that we are to eternally recur until we get this life right before we can move on to a higher level of consciousness. Applying this to the movie, we could say that he is going to continually be re-enacting and re-living the same life and death (because he has deja vu or memory fragments of his past lives he is holding onto) until he swallows a red pill, breaks free from the “comfortable” path that he thinks he should be on, and brings love into his heart.

By: Merzmensch

Merzmensch — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 10:47:50 +0000

Amazing read. I’ve watched the movie yesterday and the first google search was like “explain movie remainder” which led me to you. And I am glad, it cannot be explained on plain ways withing exPLAIN. I like theories about Freud and Nostalgia, but I have mixed feelings.

Watching the movie I had a strong Déjà-vu (wait?). About Faust. So, in one of zillions of theories about Remainder (it’s like a zillions of alternate realities): Tom as FAUST, Naz as MEPHISTO. And the more I am writing about it right now, the more hints I find (selective perception aka CG Jung)?

So, Goethe’s Mephisto doesn’t do evil things, actually. He just let do it. He enables. He gives choices – and it’s up to human being whether to fail or to win over own darkness.

Naz makes impossible things possible. He let illusion become reality (reality?). Then: Naz says, he isn’t into religion. Mephisto deconstructs Theology perfectly:

I should not wish to see you here misguided:
For, as regards this science, let me hint
‘Tis very hard to shun the false direction;
There’s so much secret poison lurking in ‘t,
So like the medicine, it baffles your detection.

So, probably Tom is a Faust with Mephisto attending him within a Moebius band of moments without past or future (or where past=future)? Kinda sorta thing?

I can write more, but I should probably stop. Thank you for your essay! I’ll subscribe your texts.

By: Taylor Holmes

Taylor Holmes — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 13:34:54 +0000

I literally can’t remember what I wrote in my write up – but I really didn’t see a spiritual play here. And trust me, I’m always looking for the spiritual to discuss. I personally don’t think any of this is real. Or founded on reality. I think that the entirety of the movie is a modern day fable maybe. Or some sort of lesson? But this movie is something bigger than just a memento knock off.

By: Robert

Robert — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 02:12:44 +0000

Argh, movies like this try to invoke some sort of spiritual thing- as if he saw his future which was caused by an event in that future.
If it was really a loop, why the same exact colors of clothing on the boy he saw later? Did they hire those people in the bank to look like that? confused there

And then the end, the same glass that collapsed before is collapsing again?

I think they were trying to be smart like Memento, etc but dropped the ball. Speaking of dropping the ball, The latest Twighlight Zone remake started off well and just descended into plot pasta…. plot/logic holes galore. The original didn’t have the luxury of special effects and famous actors- they had critical thinkers who wrote a story that really twisted your mind, just like Black Mirror does today.

By: Taylor Holmes

Taylor Holmes — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 19:17:30 +0000

In reply to deKev.

The infographic would be a circle. There isn’t anything that would be revealed. Like. AT ALL. But if that’s what you are looking for, I’m happy to do one for you, ready: O – got it?

Oh, meant to mention this. I personally think the Remainder is the left over bit that is there after his life has ended. The remnant of memory. The soul that is left to wander his memories in search of purpose and meaning. The remainder is this guy that can’t figure out what he’s done to be left in this loop. The remainder is this soul being judged for his murders and his inhumanity to man.

Personal opinion anyway.

By: deKev

deKev — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 08:59:00 +0000

I was hoping for a nice and easy walkthrough, complete with flowcharts and infographics, in order to help make sense of the choices our protagonist made throughout the film. But instead you gave us this detailed analysis of the possible motives and dare I say, philosophical concepts behind which the movie is based on… thanks Taylor, for making me feel even more confused and oh so inadequate too (just kidding).

Kidding aside, what’s with the title, Remainder? What’s getting left over? I thought it would have made more sense to go with more obvious ones like Remembrance, Repetition, Replay, Reenactment, Reconstruction, or even Reminder?

Oh, personally, I like your Sisyphean Theory best because of the obvious repetitive nature of the film, and also because our protagonist is just as evil as Sisyphus and is being punished for it. Be interesting to hear what others think too. So here’s an idea, Taylor, set up a poll on your website and get instant feedback!