eternal sunshine of the spotless mind (2004)

"How happy is the blameless vestal's lot! / The world forgetting, by the world forgot / Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! / Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd". - Alexander Pope (1717)

an innocent, naive, or pure state of mind can bring bliss. however, the more you erase and pretend, the more the world may leave you behind. you can either come to a new understanding or fall back into old habits. true peace comes not from forcibly removing painful memories but from simply learning to let them go.

the film concludes ambiguously, allowing for two possible interpretations of the couple’s future—one optimistic, the other less hopeful. as they start their relationship over again, this time knowing each other's flaws from the beginning, there’s potential for a stronger, more resilient bond. however, the risk remains that their old habits—poor communication, mismatched perspectives, and unresolved issues—will resurface, bringing out the worst in each other and ultimately leading them to the same painful ending as before.