Contemporary Memory Loss Narratives: Romanticized or Realistic?

The representation of memory loss in cinema and its impact on the perception of individuals with memory loss diseases is a recurring topic among scholars. Some scholars view cinema as having a particular influence on the way memory loss diseases are understood and interpreted by the majority of society. These interpretations emerge from an engagement with cinema, which presents material relating to memory loss “in the guise of entertainment” (Capstick, Chatwin & Ludwin, 2015, p. 7). Drawing on an analysis of a selection of 21st-century films and older titles, I draw conclusions regarding ideas on the portrayals of memory loss in cinema and present a framework that ascertains the authenticity of these films.