When someone mentions psychology to you, what's the first thing you think of? Chances are it involves a be-speckled man with a goatee sitting on a coach and asking you a series of questions in a European accent.
This is called the "talking cure" and is one of the most identifiable aspects of psychoanalysis, an idea explored by Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud in the early 20th century. "A Dangerous Method" explores the genesis of this idea through the eyes of its creators, commenting on how this idea expanded and almost destroyed psychoanalysis.
"A Dangerous Method" is based on the 2002 play "The Talking Cure" by Christopher Hempton, who also wrote the screenplay for the movie, which in turn is based on the 1993 non-fiction book "A Most Dangerous Method: The story of Jung, Freud, and Sabina Spielrein" by John Kerr.
All three stories revolve around the same conflict, as Jung (Michael Fassbender) stumbles upon a woman named Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley), whose behavior expands Jung's work but threatens his marriage and his relationship with the famed psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen).
This film explores what became the birth of the "talking cure," an idea which built the framework for modern psychoanalysis.
"A Dangerous Method" opens with Spielrein being dragged in by two attendants to see Jung. Spielrein is having trouble differentiating her humiliating childhood memories from her own sexual identity. In order to try and calm her down, Jung uses a lot of Freud's own theories to try and calm Spielrein, and it actually works. In fact, it works so well that Spielrein is revealed to be a very intelligent woman capable of even forming her own psychoanalytic theory.
In the early goings of the story, Jung doesn't meet Freud, but bases a lot of his findings off Freud's writings. Freud and Jung eventually do meet and begin to collaborate on their analysis; Freud even pegs Jung as his eventual successor as the face of psychology.
This friendship is quickly undermined, however, when Freud meets Spielrein and becomes aware of an affair between her and Jung. Freud is so shaken by this event that it sparks a rivalry between the two psychologists, one that threatens to sink the psychoanalytic community.
This is a really excellent period piece that outlines some of psychology's most important figures. Mortenson in particular is excellent as Freud, infusing his character with a confident intellect as well as a slight air of arrogance.
Fassbender, on the other hand, paints Jung as equally intelligent, yet a lot less assured. Jung has an element of randomness to him, which enables him to explore theories that expand upon Freud's own, though it also threatens to destroy him.
It is worth noting this film moves at a slow pace. There is plenty for the eye to see, but it is also very reliant on its dialogue to move the plot forward, a rarity for director David Cronenberg.
This film is also much lighter - both literally and in terms of tone - than what is typical of Cronenberg, with nary any gore to be seen. Cronenberg does, however, find room to explore the sexual identities of humans through the relationship of Jung and Spielrein. It's interesting that a psychologist studying the sexual confusion of a woman ultimately takes her as his own mistress, providing a paradox that makes up an underlying theme of the film: is the "talking cure" really effective? Or does it confuse our sexual desires?
Outside of the three main roles, Vincent Cassel gives an interesting turn as Otto Gross, another psychoanalyst who meets with Jung several times and even eventually becomes one of his patients.
This is a film that is very engaging the way a stage production would be. The costumes, sets and dialogue are all excellent. The film doesn't have a lot of scenes that rely on action or anything explicitly visually engaging to drive the story forward, but it remains an intriguing film nonetheless.
It is also perfectly paced and expertly acted. In a landscape where so many films are dependent on CGI to engage their audiences, it is refreshing to see one where the focus is the characters themselves, not the spectacle of the film. This film requires your full attention, but it is one that fully rewards that attention.
"A Dangerous Method" receives an 8/10.
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