A London man who loses his memory when he’s struck by a falling object develops a way to reconstruct his past.
Remainder (2015) is a surreal psychological thriller directed by Omer Fast, based on the novel by Tom McCarthy. The film presents a complex narrative that blends elements of trauma, identity, and the search for meaning. The plot follows an unnamed protagonist who, after being struck by a falling object, wakes up from a coma with no memory of his life. With a multimillion-pound settlement and a fragment of a memory—a mysterious scene involving a boy and an elderly woman—the protagonist embarks on a quest to reconstruct the scene in the hopes of triggering more memories. As he tries to relive these moments, his actions become more erratic, eventually leading him to unravel disturbing secrets about his life and the mystery behind the accident.
The protagonist, who is not named in the film, suffers a traumatic brain injury after being struck by an object falling from the sky. He is left with no recollection of his past. After receiving a large financial settlement, he embarks on a quest to recreate a fragment of his memory—a scene from his childhood. This scene involves a young boy at the top of a staircase, reaching out to an elderly woman on the floor below. Using his wealth, the protagonist rents a block of apartments and hires actors to help him re-enact the scene over and over again, in hopes that doing so will unlock more of his lost memories. However, as he becomes obsessed with these re-enactments, he begins to lose grip on reality. His increasingly complex and dangerous re-creations begin to reveal more than he bargained for, leading to the uncovering of a hidden crime and the mystery of his own past.
Watching Remainder is likely to leave you with a sense of unease and reflection. The film doesn’t offer easy answers, and its abstract nature means that viewers may find themselves questioning the narrative long after the credits roll. The protagonist’s obsessive search for meaning and identity is both captivating and disturbing. The plot’s non-linear and enigmatic structure may confuse some viewers, but it will likely provoke deep thoughts about memory, trauma, and the search for self-understanding. You might find yourself reflecting on the reliability of your own memories and how much of your identity is shaped by them. Ultimately, watching Remainder might leave you unsettled but intellectually engaged, with lingering questions about the nature of existence and the fragility of human consciousness.
In conclusion, Remainder is a thought-provoking, challenging film that isn’t afraid to explore the complexities of the human mind and memory. It’s not an easy watch, but it’s certainly a rewarding one for those who enjoy films that challenge conventional storytelling and explore deeper psychological and philosophical themes.