This movie is so incredible. I had to watch it for my Behavioral Neuroscience class (funny I know), and I sat in my little room watching it on my laptop. There was a purpose to us watching it for class, we were discussing memory and read a review article about episodic memory systems (think the MTL). Every one of the actors was so fantastic. I don’t want to directly spoil anything, but it was nice to watch that rollercoaster of emotions and come away with the conclusion that love transcends things like memory.
In fact, research has found that people with anterograde and retrograde amnesia, even if they cannot directly remember the person that they love, still love them and experience that love. Clive Wearing experienced profound memory loss and the inability to form new memories due to encephalitis. But he still remembered how much he loved his wife, Deborah, and often times she was the only one that could bring him joy. He was able to lead a fulfilled life because he still had that love.
So, if you’re like my boyfriend and worry about some crazy illness or accident causing your loved one to lose their memory entirely, think of Clive and Deborah, and think of this movie, and know that you will still be loved even if they cannot remember you.