Momento

Directed by Christopher Nolan

Released in 2000

Preceding the credits we are met with eerie music and a Polaroid photograph of a bloody scene is being shaken. However as the Polaroid is shaken it fades, it is very clear that the process of development is being reversed. We then see the camera being operated in reverse and the scene continues to reverse displaying the reverse of the character shooting a man. This shocks but in a very extended way the viewer building tension and leading the audience to question why is it being played backwards, why has he shot this man and why take a picture. In a monologue we then find out that the character takes pictures as he suffers from a memory condition of which inhibits him form creating new memories. This is explains why he has to take Polaroid images and also why his tattoos are reversed as they are done by himself in the mirror. This is a very clever and very successful opening, we have witnessed a murder yet we still feel empathy for the character.