Qauid – Absolute Memory
Total Recall, is probably one of the most intricate productions in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career. The film is based on the short story We will remind you in bulk by Philip K. Dick. The action is set in the 21st century, humanity managed to leave Earth and colonize Mars. The journey to the red planet is a great dream of the protagonist – both in the story and in the movie – Doug Quaid (played, of course, by the former governor of California). However, our hero, as a worker with average earnings, is unable to afford such a journey. This is where the Rekal corporation comes in, providing quite unusual services. It offers its clients memory implantation procedures, which give the impression of fulfilling dreams and experiencing extraordinary adventures. During the procedure, however, something strange happens (as if uploading someone else’s memories wasn’t unusual enough anymore). It turns out that Quaid has artificially added memories already in his head. Moreover, he was once on the fourth planet from the sun. The main character is going through an identity crisis. To find out who he really is and save his life, Doug must travel to Mars, where all the answers are.
During the first screening, the viewer may definitely feel a bit confused. Who is the main character really? Is he a secret agent or just a mediocre? Of course, as the plot progresses, more and more of its elements become clear, but the initial confusion will certainly not be forgotten. While the popular Arnie is mostly associated with unforgettable moments from Terminator or Conan , Absolute Recall also has some memorable scenes. Good examples will be the one with the cybernetic mask of a woman from under which the main character emerges, moments with deformed inhabitants of Mars, or the exposure of the human body to the atmosphere of the Red Planet. – Krzysztof Płociński
