[PW] Fiction Plotted Backwards

[Linda Corets]

Related plot keywords on imdb (with movie lists) include:

Reverse chronology
http://www.imdb.com/keyword/reverse-chronology/ 

Nonlinear timeline
http://www.imdb.com/keyword/nonlinear-timeline/

Backwards
http://www.imdb.com/keyword/backwards/ 

Linda Corets
Seattle

-----Original Message-----
From: project-wombat-bounces at lists.project-wombat.org
[mailto:project-wombat-bounces at lists.project-wombat.org] On Behalf Of Dianne
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 4:23 PM
To: list at project-wombat.org
Subject: [PW] Fiction Plotted Backwards

I was late to seeing "Memento," which is a film that starts at the end of 
the story and then works its way backwards to what would normally be the 
beginning. It sparked a vague sort of memory in me.

I know I saw, several years ago, another film with the same structure.  I 
think the story was about two people who fall in love and eventually break 
up (or perhaps one discovers an infidelity in the other). The film starts 
with the break up (or near to it) and then works backwards until you see how

they came together in the first place. That's my recollection, anyway.  I 
believe it may have been based on a play, but I am lost as to identify an 
author or title. I keep thinking Kevin Kline might have been in the film, 
but I couldn't identify it from a list of his films, so that may be a false 
memory on my part (ironic considering the theme of "Memento.")

I don't know if anyone can identify the film from that lame description, but

I'd also be curious if anyone knows of any other films/novels/plays that are

structured in a similar way.

I don't mean mysteries, of course, where the detective is presented a 
problem and then unravels it through the course of his or her investigation.

That's a pretty normal way mysteries are constructed.  I mean where the 
viewer or reader sees the normally last scene first, and the first scene 
last.

And is there a name for this style of writing?

This is just for me and my curostiy, so no hurry.

Thank you.

Dianne Parham
Retired in San Diego 

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