According to his son, Clive Welling was once an “intellectual colossus”. He is also an acclaimed conductor and musician. Then, in 1985, a virus left severe damage in parts of his brain, particularly those responsible for memory. Therefore, he now lives in a state of constant awakening. The Man With Seven Seconds of Memory is a compassionate and engaging portrayal of his everyday life.
The film marvels at the condition of Wearing and the mysteries of the brain itself. Although his memory exists only for a moment, he maintains a masterful grasp of the language of music. He can’t remember his age or the day of the week, but he will never forget his wife’s name. It seemed that what he loved most in life was rooted in him; it transcended the boundaries of memory.
How did Wevin and his family cope with one of the most extreme cases of amnesia in history? Filmmakers pulled footage from a previous documentary made immediately after his diagnosis. Through these flashbacks, the film shows us her gradual acceptance. We have witnessed intense conflict, tension and torture. He called his wife from the hospital and asked her to come and see him, not remembering that she had left his side only a few minutes earlier. He wept in frustration when his wife drew attention to a ritual he did not remember.
In contrast, today’s Weaving family is more focused, inclusive, and graceful in meeting life’s daily challenges. In the chaos of extreme mental disorder, they learn to embrace the wonder of it all. There are undeniable downsides to treating every moment as if it was the first time, but there’s also a great deal of beauty. His wife’s unwavering patience and understanding are nothing less than inspiring, and audiences are sure to be equally struck by Weaver’s calm, personable, and restrained demeanor.
In this profoundly personal portrait, The Man Who Remembers in Seven Seconds touches on many deeper themes, including the extent to which our lives are shaped by our memories.
Directed by: Jane Treays
