Momento takes the basic plot of the short story, Momento Mori--a man who suffered the loss of his short-term memory in the traumatic moment of the assault on and murder of his wife is seeking revenge. The focus of the film, like the story, is on exploring the experience of this type of memory loss. Both the film and the story imagine what such a condition is like. They both creatively explore the feel of the world through entering into the mind and consciousness of the character and by presenting how the character copes with the bewilderment of a present that continually slips away. Also, notes, lists and photos are all used as means of guiding Earl and Leonard around in their worlds. The most important thing that the film takes from the story is the use of tattoos.
An example of an idea used in both the film and short story is when Earl is riding away after killing the man, he frantically searches for a pen to write down what he's done as his memory slips away. He can't find a pen and he forgets. This moment inspired the scene in the film in which Natalie taunts Leonard into hitting her, then slips out the door while Leonard frantically searches for a pen or pencil.
Specific statements from the short story were also incorporated into the film. For example, “So how can you forgive if you can't remember to forget?” was printed on one of Earl’s notes in Momento Mori. In the film, a revision of this statement is Leonard's closing interior monologue after he burns his wife's old things: “Probably tried this before. Probably burned truckloads of your stuff. Can't remember to forget you.”
An example of an idea used in both the film and short story is when Earl is riding away after killing the man, he frantically searches for a pen to write down what he's done as his memory slips away. He can't find a pen and he forgets. This moment inspired the scene in the film in which Natalie taunts Leonard into hitting her, then slips out the door while Leonard frantically searches for a pen or pencil.
Specific statements from the short story were also incorporated into the film. For example, “So how can you forgive if you can't remember to forget?” was printed on one of Earl’s notes in Momento Mori. In the film, a revision of this statement is Leonard's closing interior monologue after he burns his wife's old things: “Probably tried this before. Probably burned truckloads of your stuff. Can't remember to forget you.”