Female Representation in Memento

Carol Clover claims that in many a film, though generally horror, a female protagonist is established as the 'lone survivor'. The female's previously feminized appearance or character is transformed into something much more dominating or significant, thus she has single-handedly been capable of overcoming the odds;
    "She rests her case on the narrative role of the 'Final Girl': the one girl in the film who fights, resists and survives the killer-monster. The final girl acquires the gaze, and dominates the action, and is thus masculinised'. (Anneke Smelik, The Cinema Book, p495)
In this clip we first truly see Natalie when she drags Lennard down into his seat. She easily shows dominance and power, her black clothes and sunglasses agitate Lenny enough into him asking her to remove the glasses. From her face we clearly see a cut lip and bruises, thus indicating she has experienced either abuse or conflict. However, her now strong and powerful hold indicates she has overcome this and is now able to have a dominating presence. Her language is somewhat borderline spiteful, with "you don't remember me", and "you have those freaky tattoos" referencing his mental condition. Though in this film we obviously experience no 'horror monster', Natalie's repression is caused through the male characters in the film. Her boyfriend clearly possesses a hold over her, and Lennard shows physical dominance over her when beating him up. Natalie's very last line in the film is "we are both survivors". This represents, her overcoming of repression, and how she has able to overcome obstacles beheld upon her, such as a violent drug-dealing boyfriend. At the end of the plot Natalie is no longer repressed or dominated over; she is simply able to leave carefree and unharmed.
       Mulvey states that in many films, the audience is often made to feel closer to the male character than any female that we see. Whether this be through idolisation or even personal identification, an audience is positioned in a way that we are forcefully made to establish a bond with only the male characters we see;
"Hence the spectator is actively made to identify with the male rather than with the female character in film". (p491)
From the beginning of the movie Memento, we are made to identify with the male protagonist, Lennie. However, due to is distorted memory and unreliable narration, it often becomes hard or confusing to form a bond with him. Thus, arguably we are made to identify with other characters in the film, such as Natalie. In the scene when Natalie enters her home after being beaten up by Lennie, she plays the innocent victim. Previously we have seen her plan to sabotage Lennie, and how she plans to "work him to her advantage". Lennie is obviously unable to remember this, and so we may feel annoyed that he is in-fact caring for Natalie, finding ice for her bruises. Throughout this film then, the theory as said by Muvey would in-fact be reversed. Natalie is one of the only other characters we can form a bond with, and as Nolan himself claimed Lenny to be  "a character that we distrust", Natalie is perhaps somebody who we can trust. Her emotion is quite real, and so it is more possible for us to form a bond with her.
    Narrative structure of traditional cinema often establishes the male as 'active and powerful'. He is the the agent around whom the dramatic action unfolds, and is often the hero who saves the day. The same cannot be said for the females;
"The female character is passive and powerless, she is the object of desire for the male characters". (p491)
In Memento it is true that there is a central male character in which the narrative falls around. Lenny (and his memory problems), have the job of gaining vengeance for his wife. In particular scene, Natalie reveals her true character in claiming how she "plans to use" Lenny to her advantage. She begins to call his wife a "whore", as well as claiming him to be a "retard". This obviously shows a certain amount of masculinity and anger, as this type of behaviour would not stereotypically be associated with a woman. She begins to go as far as in fact making fun of his 'manhood', claiming that he may of contracted his condition from his sexually diseased wife. This is one point in the film when Natalie in-fact powerful, as she obviously is able to manipulate somebody else. She perhaps works this to her advantage, as although she is female, she is mentally stronger than he is. However, this is completely reversed later on in the scene. The only way Lenny manages to overcome this is by exuding his physical power over her, by beginning to beat her up; punching her in the face. Thus, Natalie is dominated and is powerless in relation to Lenny's strength. 
       Not only is it the narrative and plot that can represent a female, but technical elements; (camera, sound, lighting) can also play a huge part in how an audience perceives a certain character. 
"Camera movement, continuity editing, framing, narrative unity, spectator point of view, and spectacle of women are all analysed in feminist counter-cinema." (Jane Gaines, Women and Representation, Jump Cut no.29).

     One key element in the film Memento is Lenny's recollection of his wife. This is shown quite early on in the film, and is a short montage of numerous different aspects that apparently made up his ex-wifes life. She is typically attractive with blonde hair and a pretty face, signifying that this woman is 'worth fighting for'. We see her in a number of different scenarios, such as cooking in the kitchen, getting changed, shopping or even in the shower. All of these are typically feminine situations, and thus she is placed in the position of being the typical female, thus the audience is able to recollect exactly how we see imagine her. This goes as far to say she is even left nameless, thus we see her as more of an object rather than a person; her character in the credits being "Lennard's Wife". At the end of the film we learn that she in-fact did not die, but simple left Lenny as she was unable to accept his condition and thus was able to get over him. This again shows a certain element of weakness; she was mentally unable to comprehend her situation, and so her only option is to leave.

     Overall, I think Memento purposefully plays on the typical elements that a society or an audience would expect from a female. When considering whether it is a feminist film or not, it is clear that is plays on the more stereotypical elements that we would expect from a film; vengeance for a hard done-by woman, and another female that in-fact uses her position of a female to her advantage, using it to overcome the only person who is actually weaker than her (somebody with a mental illness). However, it is not completely irrelevant to forget the film in fact draws us away from the male protagonist; leaving the audience to feel detached to Lenny and allowing us to make bonds with other characters elsewhere.