Remember Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A forgetful old man goes on a road trip armed with a letter, a gun, and a mission to kill the Nazi who killed his family, only to discover he’s the one they should have been remembering.

🍿 Remember: Detailed Plot Synopsis

An Elderly Man’s Mission

Zev Guttman, an elderly Jewish man suffering from dementia, lives in a nursing home. Upon the death of his wife, he is given a letter by fellow resident Max Rosenbaum, a Holocaust survivor confined to a wheelchair. The letter details a plan for Zev to find and kill the Nazi guard responsible for murdering their families at Auschwitz, who is believed to be living in America under an assumed identity.

Following the Clues

Despite his memory issues, Zev embarks on a cross-country journey, armed with Max’s letter providing specific instructions. He tracks down four men named Rudy Kurlander, each a potential suspect. His dementia complicates the mission, causing confusion and reliance on the letter to remember his purpose. Each encounter brings him closer to the truth, but also challenges his fragile mental state.

Confrontations and Discoveries

Zev’s quest leads him to unexpected encounters, including a tense confrontation with a neo-Nazi, the son of one of the Rudy Kurlanders. As he eliminates suspects, the suspense builds, pushing him to his physical and mental limits. Each interaction provides fragments of information, gradually piecing together the puzzle of the Nazi guard’s true identity. He eventually locates the final Rudy Kurlander at Lake Tahoe.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Zev Guttman (Christopher Plummer): An elderly Auschwitz survivor with dementia sets out to avenge his family’s death by hunting down a Nazi guard.
• Max Rosenbaum (Martin Landau): A wheelchair-bound fellow Auschwitz survivor who guides Zev in his quest for revenge, driven by a desire for justice.
• Charles Guttman (Henry Czerny): Zev’s concerned son, who tries to track him down after he leaves the nursing home.
• John Kurlander (Dean Norris): The neo-Nazi son of one of the men Zev suspects is the Nazi guard he is searching for.
• Rudy Kurlander (Jurgen Prochnow): The final Rudy Kurlander whom Zev confronts, revealing a shocking truth about the past.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Max Rosenbaum: “We are the last living survivors from our prison block. Besides me, you are the only person who could still recognize the man who killed our families.” – Max emphasizes the urgency and importance of Zev’s mission in a letter.
• Max Rosenbaum: “His name is Otto Wallisch. You must find him.” – Max writes this in a letter that Zev constantly refers to throughout his journey.

💰Box Office

• Budget: CA$13,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $1,184,564
• Worldwide Gross: $4,235,959

💥 Remember Reviews

Personal Review

I was completely drawn into this movie! Christopher Plummer’s performance is incredible, and the story is so gripping. The ending took me completely by surprise; I had to rewind and watch it again to catch all the clues I missed. It’s one of those movies that sticks with you for days.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of suspenseful thrillers”
  • “Viewers interested in Holocaust-related stories”
  • “Those who appreciate strong acting performances”
  • “People who enjoy films with unexpected twists”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence”
  • “Mature themes”
  • “Some language”
  • “Discussion of the Holocaust”

Professional Reviews

• The New York Times: “Christopher Plummer delivers a stunning performance as Zev, a man battling dementia while seeking revenge. Egoyan crafts a suspenseful and thought-provoking film that lingers long after the credits roll.
• RogerEbert.com: “Remember is a meticulously crafted thriller that explores themes of memory, justice, and identity. Plummer’s portrayal of Zev is both heartbreaking and compelling, anchoring the film’s emotional core.
• Variety: “Atom Egoyan’s ‘Remember’ is a captivating film led by Christopher Plummer and Martin Landau. It builds to a shocking conclusion that may divide audiences but will certainly spark conversation.

Audience Reactions

The twist ending is a mind-blowing experience that recontextualizes the entire film.: Viewers praise the film’s suspenseful narrative, Christopher Plummer’s exceptional acting, and the shocking twist ending.

Plummer’s portrayal of a dementia-stricken man is both heartbreaking and incredibly realistic.: Many viewers were deeply moved by Christopher Plummer’s performance, praising his ability to convey the vulnerability and confusion of a person with dementia.

Overall Consensus: Remember is a well-acted, suspenseful thriller with a shocking twist that explores complex themes of memory, revenge, and identity.

Awards

1. Canadian Screen Award (Best Original Screenplay)- 2016

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Christopher Plummer performed all the piano playing himself in the film.”
• “Director Atom Egoyan is known for his films dealing with Armenian topics and turned his attention to the parallel experience of the Jewish genocide.”
• “The film explores themes of memory loss and the importance of remembering history, particularly in the context of the Holocaust.”

🖥️ How to Watch Remember?

As of October 2024, ‘Remember’ is available for rent or purchase on various platforms, including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your preferred streaming service for availability in your region. Physical copies (DVD, Blu-ray) can be purchased from major retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Remember, you might like these similar films:

• Memento (2000): Both films feature a protagonist with memory loss on a quest for revenge, leading to a complex and mind-bending narrative.
• The Odessa File (1974): Features a journalist tracking down a former Nazi SS commander in post-war Germany.
• The Boys from Brazil (1978): Deals with the hunt for Nazis who are still alive and plotting in the modern era.

🛒 Remember Related Products

• Remember (Blu-ray): Own the film on Blu-ray and experience the suspense and drama in high definition. Includes bonus content such as behind-the-scenes footage and interviews.
• The Complete Maus: A Survivor’s Tale: A Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel that tells the story of a Holocaust survivor, as told to his son. A powerful and moving companion piece to ‘Remember’.
• Auschwitz: A Doctor’s Eyewitness Account: Dr. Miklós Nyiszli was a Hungarian-Jewish doctor who was imprisoned in the Auschwitz concentration camp. This book will provide readers with an important historical insight into the concentration camps.
• Schindler’s List [Blu-ray]: An award-winning movie with Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Caroline Goodall, Jonathan Sagall and Embeth Davidtz

🎧 Soundtrack

Remember features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Etude Op 92 No. 5 In G Major” – performed by Moritz Moszkowski
• “Main Theme” – performed by Mychael Danna

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Troy Analysis – How it got Achilles and The Iliad WRONG!

Ever wondered how accurate ‘Troy’ was to ‘The Iliad’? This video breaks down the key differences, especially with Achilles. Honestly, it’s kinda shocking how much they changed!

✨ Rate