Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2004 American drama film written by Charlie Kaufman , directed by Michel Gondry , and starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet . Pierre Bismuth created the story with Kaufman and Gondry. The film features an ensemble supporting cast that includes Kirsten Dunst , Mark Ruffalo , Elijah Wood , and Tom Wilkinson . The title of the film is a quotation from the 1717 poem Eloisa to Abelard by Alexander Pope . The picture uses elements of psychological drama , science fiction and a nonlinear narrative to explore the nature of memory and romantic love . [2]