In Memories of Tomorrow, John (Richard Thompson) can't remember their past. His wife Tanya (Rachel Gilchrist), on the other hand, is desperately trying to forget. Together, they have forged a new life in New Zealand, leaving Britain, and their previous lives, behind. But four years later history is coming to get them in John's nightmarish dreams; in the arrival of Roger (Ray Trickitt), a previous acquaintance of Tanya's; and in the inescapable chain of events that Roger's arrival sets off. It gives this film its title, and gives the tale its hook.
The relatively slow beginning gives the viewer time to understand the dynamic between the couple, and see how John's lack of memories is creating a dark undertow in their seemingly tranquil lifestyle. While it's not readily apparent what are dreams and what is reality (more from the filming perspective than the acting), the realisation that Tanya is keeping something from John becomes obvious to both him and the viewer.
The pace picks up a little when Roger arrives in Auckland, with covert pick-ups, hidden cameras, and espionage behind the scenes. And when Roger comes into contact with Tanya and John, the present begins to tangle with the past, creating disastrous results for everyone.
The end is no disappointment, with the main questions answered. But new questions are created and left open, allowing for the possibility of a return to the tale at a later date.
No one is going to mistake Memories of Tomorrow for a million-dollar film, but neither does it come across as an amateur effort. The main actors are credible and believable, with most extras also doing well. Given the breaks between filming (done primarily on weekends) and the constraints on locations and time, getting into character cannot have been easily done. Auckland locals will recognise Takapuna and Onehunga featured heavily, with Bethells Beach making appearances in some of the most sinister memories.
