Film Review: ‘Memory’ is an Emotional Powerhouse from Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard

Up until now, Michel Franco has been a storyteller who, almost without exception, has a grim view of the world. Chronic or his prior film Sundown, for example, are about as bleak as it gets. So, it came as a surprise when his newest movie Memory contains more hope than anything else he’s ever done before. It contains his trademark pacing, natural feel, and strong acting, but it’s in a package that goes down a bit easier than usual.

Memory is an acting showcase that packs an emotional wallop. That’s exactly what you expect from Franco, to be sure, but by the end of this one, there’s a sense of minor key optimism. The characters here have hard lives, without question, but there’s a chance that their best days are yet to come, at least in some regards. That’s a change of pace, resulting in his best film to date.

Sylvia (Jessica Chastain) lives in Brooklyn with her daughter Anna (Brooke Timber). She’s a social worker and recovering alcoholic who leads a life as spartan as it is structured. Encouraged by her sister Olivia (Merritt Wever) to attend their high school reunion, the precarious balance in her life gets thrown off-kilter when Saul (Peter Sarsgaard) follows her home. She gets home and watches as he stays there, eventually needing help in the morning.

Saul, it turns out, is in the early stages of dementia. His protective brother Isaac (Josh Charles) picks him up, though not before Sylvia realizes that she recognizes him from her dark and tragic past. That confrontation impacts them both profoundly, though not as much as what happens as she reckons with her memory, even as he can’t. I won’t say where this goes, but it goes to several places that you would never expect.

Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard have rarely been better than they are here. Chastain is all jagged edges and raised walls, but seeing how they start to crumble, with agonizing results, is really something. Sarsgaard, on the other hand, gives us a portrayal of someone dealing with dementia that we’ve never seen before. He’s so good, while doing something completely new. I was in awe of work. The pair eventually develop a gentle chemistry that’s downright hypnotic. Josh Charles, Brooke Timber, and Merritt Wever have nice moments, but they’re very much in the shadow of Chastain and Sarsgaard. Supporting players here include Elsie Fisher, Jessica Harper, and more.

Filmmaker Michel Franco makes this, shockingly, as close to his feel good movie as he’ll likely ever do. Memory isn’t necessarily an upper, but

Memory hit me rather hard. There isn’t one moment that did it, but the sum total of what everyone is up to here really walloped me. This is one of the more underrated gems of 2023. Here’s hoping that it doesn’t completely slip below the radar. It’s got some incredible acting as well as a story that will move you deeply. Don’t miss it.

SCORE: ★★★1/2