Lillian Likes..."Duality of Memory"

Lillian Likes..."Duality of Memory

**This review may contain spoilers**

“Duality of Memory” is an introspective film about a woman who struggles with existential questions and a decision that could alter her life forever.

The film opens with a woman making a frantic and upset phone call that someone is missing. We quickly learn that the main character, Hannah, played by Kara Zediker, seems to be going through some sort of an existential crisis.

Lillian Likes…The title of this film, “Duality of Memory.”

Lillian Likes…The music for this film, composed by Matt Teichler, which perfectly complements the introspective feel of this film.

Lillian Likes…The interesting narration about what actually creates a memory, asking the profound question about the nature of memory and if what we think we remember is actually real.

Lillian Likes…The introspective montage of shots that align with the narration of Hannah who is persistently in a state of deep thought and reflection.

Lillian Likes…The main character’s intriguing internal conflict, as it made one wonder what haunts this woman and what secrets she may be hiding.

Lillian Likes…The switch to an almost sinister tone after the audience is immersed in introspection and philosophical musings about the human experience with Hannah’s silhouette looming in the doorway.

This film is unique in that it is peppered with narration throughout, and almost feels as if the viewer is watching a novel come to life on the screen, staying true to the book with the main character’s thoughts and feelings being revealed in the narration and through symbolic imagery and shots.

Lillian Likes…The artistic shot of Hannah sitting at the fountain of a Roman-looking colosseum.

Lillian Likes…The interesting montage of shots of Hannah standing dazed in the street, then cutting to her walking down the middle of the street, presumably from the other direction.

It is quite apparent early on that this character is somewhat neurotic and lost, mainly tormented by her own mind and the philosophical questions that haunt her. Kara Zediker, who plays the role of Hannah, conveys a deep emotionality, and does a very effective job revealing the inner turmoil and wrestling with her personal demons without a lot of dialogue.

There are some scenes within the narrative montages of Hannah interacting with a man, who we assume is her boyfriend. We eventually learn that he is a philandering boyfriend who appears to have many women in his orbit, not just Hannah.

Lillian Likes…The shot where Hannah stands in the middle of a group of women holding a cocktail glass, staring directly at the camera, as the camera slowly zooms out.

Lillian Likes…The sense of low boil on this film, where there is a mysterious darkness lurking just below the surface, almost giving the viewer a sense of suspense.

There is an intriguing scene between Hannah and what we can assume is her therapist (Lynda Porter) who presents her with a shoebox and an ominous warning of, “If you do this, there’s no going back,” to which Hannah replies, “I don’t want to go back, I only want to go forward.” This prompts the therapist to say that after this session, they must part ways and be as complete strangers.

We soon learn that the shoebox contains a handgun, which she uses to kill her unfaithful boyfriend Colin (Guy Wicke).

Lillian Likes…The interesting follow up scene where the main character writes with a stick in the sand, “I did it.” It almost felt like the character needed to remind herself of her dirty misdeed, that some part of her mind would choose to forget what she had done.

Lillian Likes…The unintentional humor of the scene where Hannah struggles to drag her tarp-covered boyfriend’s dead body to the dumpster. I actually don’t think the director intended this to be funny, but it gave me a chuckle, nonetheless.

Lillian Likes…That the story comes full circle and repeats the scene from earlier of Hannah making a frantic call to authorities that someone she knows is missing, which we learn now was regarding her boyfriend who she murdered. We also get a true glimpse into her psyche when she immediately switches off her emotions after concluding the call, displaying her ability to be cold and calculating.

Lillian Likes…The interesting scene of Hannah in what almost feels like a confessional in its level of claustrophobia as her now deceased boyfriend confronts her and calls her out, saying that he didn’t deserve what she did to him. The image of him then fades and Hannah is left alone with herself.

What was really interesting about this film was that it wasn’t all that focused on the murder aspect, but rather on the main character’s internal state in an almost philosophical, poetic journey of a woman who chooses to remain in her own head rather than fully being present in this life.

Lillian Likes…The way the director teases the audience where we are left wondering if Hannah will get away with it, with her seeming ability to bury her own memories under a layer of philosophical meanderings.

What I really loved about this film was its artistic direction. The majority of the shots and scenes were assembled to convey a poetic reality of the main character’s mind. Between the hypnotic score and the artistic slant of many of the scenes, I felt like I was watching a poem on the screen.

Lillian Likes…”Duality of Memory”

Written and Directed by Eric Mattson

Produced by Eric Mattson and Kevin Epperson

Cinematography by Jason Deuchler

Edited by Danial Jay Lewis

Original Music by Matt Teichler

Sound Design by Bobby Thompson

Starring Kara Zediker, Guy Wicke, Joanne Dubach, Lynda Porter, and Arch Harmon

Be sure to check out the film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5E3I6-16-w