Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was released in theaters in 2004, and stars the incredibly talented Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet. The feature has come to be regarded as one of the most important breakup movies of this generation, and unquestionably redefined the romance genre in the early 2000s. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind centers on two lovers who undergo a procedure to have their memories of each other erased after a particularly difficult breakup. The Academy recognized the brilliance of Charlie Kaufman’s genre-bending premise by awarding an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay during the 77th ceremony.

Needless to say, Carrey and Winslet’s outstanding performances remain to stand the test of time, which is owed to Joel and Clementine’s journey. However, this should not minimize the performances of other principal characters, who are indispensable to the narrative of Eternal Sunshine. Most notably, Kirsten Dunst who has one of the most underrated roles in her entire career. Despite the minimal screen time, Dunst’s portrayal of the quirky office ᴀssistant, Mary, creates one of the film’s most heartbreaking moments. Not to mention, her character serves as an important signal to the events that transpire within the main love story.

Mary’s Story In Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Is Subtle, But Heartbreaking

Mary Has Repeated The Events Of Joel And Clementine With Her Boss

Mary is first introduced in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind as a quirky office ᴀssistant, dating the lab technician, Stan (Mark Ruffalo). However, it is not long before this is turned on its head, when Mary later shares a romantic moment with Dr. Howard Mierzwiak (Tom Wilkinson) and it becomes clear that things are not as straightforward as they may appear. As the pair embrace, Dr. Howard’s wife witnesses them through the window and, while the office ᴀssistant insists it was nothing, his wife reveals that Mary and Dr. Howard had an affair previously.

These events lead to the shocking revelation that Dr. Howard had previously coerced Mary into the procedure, hoping to erase himself, and their affair, from her memory. Mary and Dr. Howard’s former relationship is an unexpected turn in the narrative, and though the film does not explore their relationship much further, it is one of the most gut-wrenching moments in Eternal Sunshine‘s entire runtime. Though subtle, Dr. Howard’s manipulation of Mary far surpᴀsses that of any other character in the film, made worse by discovering he reemployed her post-procedure, in the hopes that they would not meet the same fate.

Kirsten Dunst’s Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind Performance Is Quietly Underrated

Mary Is Often Forgotten In Kirsten Dunst’s Catalog Of Films

Kirsten Dunst has had an incredibly consistent career in Hollywood, acting since a young age and gradually progressing into more mature roles. The actor has a very broad and wide-ranging repertoire, though it is often easier to recall Dunst’s time spent in major franchises over her minor roles in projects such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. For instance, many people may opt to recall her role as Mary Jane Watson in the early 2000s Spider-Man trilogy. Naturally, these blockbuster performances are formidable, but the smaller roles offer Dunst the opportunity for a more nuanced portrayal.

Dunst’s performance in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is impressive. Although she has far less time on screen than her co-stars, Dunst is able to command every scene she appears in. Mary is an incredibly multifaceted character who is, to some degree, established as a reckless and oblivious individual. However, she is later confronted with a profound discovery that fundamentally alters her understanding of the world. Dunst masterfully portrays these different versions of Mary’s personality, and captures the attention of audiences who perhaps resonate with her character more than Joel or Clementine, who do not have such prominent growth.

It Made Sense For Mary & Howard To Have An Undeveloped Romance In Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Mary and Howard Are Crucial In Foreshadowing Joel And Clementine’s Ending

A number of factors amplify Joel and Clementine’s strained relationship, such as Patrick (Elijah Wood) and his exploitation of Clementine immediately following her procedure. While these factors are important, keeping Mary and Dr. Howard’s romance vague becomes the film’s priority, as Dunst’s character is one of the most intricate details that foreshadow the ending of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. In spite of his desperate attempts to erase her memory, Mary is a reminder that Dr. Howard’s procedure is clearly unable to remove the heart’s desires, which ultimately reduces the couple to the same fate.

Of course, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind could not jeopardize its central romance between Joel and Clementine. This would likely have been the outcome had the film focused more of its efforts on exploring Mary and Howard’s dynamic further. It is important to acknowledge the pair’s undeveloped romance is far more valuable to the film’s themes, as it highlights how damaging Dr. Howard’s service can be — and how readily people misuse it. Evidently, Mary and Dr. Howard’s brief screen time in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is representative of how fast people are able to move on from a breakup.