In "Memento," Guy Pearce plays Leonard Shelby, an assault victim with a thirst for revenge

Standard narrative a distant memory in 'Memento'

From Lauren Hunter
CNN Showbiz Today Reports

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Leonard Shelby has no short-term memory. He's lucky to recall something that happened just minutes before.

"I can't make new memories," says Shelby, the central figure of the new film "Memento" who's trying to track down the man who killed his wife.

VIDEO CNN's Lauren Hunter talks with the director and actors of 'Memento' Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Movie trailer for 'Memento' Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

Adapted by British-born director Christopher Nolan from a short story by his brother Jonathan, "Memento" puts the audience through some of the same quandaries as the main character.

"The structure of the film is to tell the story backwards, so that we're continually finding out what just happened," Nolan said.

"In that way, we really try and immerse the audience into Leonard's rather frightening perceptual distortion, whereby he doesn't know who to trust."

The film's innovative way of telling a story backward earned it this year's Sundance screenwriting award.

British-born director Christopher Nolan based the movie on a short story by his brother Jonathan

"It's a heightened example of what we all go through at any given time in the day," said actor Guy Pearce, who plays Shelby and is known for his roles in "L.A. Confidential" and "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert."

To provide visual clues for the audience, Nolan supplied Pearce with scratches and tattoos, and gave costar Carrie-Anne Moss a cut on her lip.

"I don't think there's anything there to help you," said Pearce, laughing. "I think it's all there to make things more difficult."

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'Memento' official site

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