A Dangerous Method (2011)

A look at how the intense relationship between Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud gives birth to psychoanalysis.

Director:

David Cronenberg

Writers:

Christopher Hampton (screenplay), Christopher Hampton (play),

Stars:

Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 17 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Keira Knightley	...	Sabina Spielrein
Viggo Mortensen	...	Sigmund Freud
Michael Fassbender	...	Carl Jung
Vincent Cassel	...	Otto Gross
Sarah Gadon	...	Emma Jung
André Hennicke	...	Professor Eugen Bleuler (as André M. Hennicke)
Arndt Schwering-Sohnrey	...	Sándor Ferenczi
Mignon Remé	...	Jung's Secretary
Mareike Carrière	...	Food Nurse
Franziska Arndt	...	Bath Nurse
Wladimir Matuchin	...	Nikolai Spielrein
André Dietz	...	Medical Policeman
Anna Thalbach	...	Bathtub Patient
Sarah Marecek	...	Orchard Nurse
Bjorn Geske	...	Orderly (as Björn Geske)

Storyline

Suffering from hysteria, Sabina Spielrein is hospitalized under the care of Dr. Carl Jung who has begun using Dr. Sigmund Freud's talking cure with some of his patients. Spielrain's psychological problems are deeply rooted in her childhood and violent father. She is highly intelligent however and hopes to be a doctor, eventually becoming a psychiatrist in her own right. The married Jung and Spielrein eventually become lovers. Jung and Freud develop an almost father-son relationship with Freud seeing the young Jung as his likely successor as the standard-bearer of his beliefs. A deep rift develops between them when Jung diverges from Freud's belief that while psychoanalysis can reveal the cause of psychological problems it cannot cure the patient.

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Plot Keywords:

jung | freud | carl jung | sigmund freud | patient | 

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Taglines:

Based on the true story of Jung, Freud and the patient who came between them.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content and brief language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

UK Germany Canada Switzerland

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 November 2011 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Un método peligroso

Filming Locations:

Schloss Belvedere - Rennweg 6, Vienna, Austria

Box Office

Budget:

€15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$167,953 (USA) (18 November 2011)

Gross:

$5,702,083 (USA) (27 April 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Recorded Picture Company (RPC), Lago Film, Prospero Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The apocalyptic dream, described by Jung may refer to the beginning of World War I (1914-1918). During World War I Jung was drafted as an army doctor and soon made commandant of an internment camp for British officers and soldiers. Swiss neutrality obliged the Swiss to intern personnel from either side of the conflict who crossed their frontier to evade capture. Jung worked to improve the conditions for these soldiers stranded in neutral territory; he encouraged them to attend university courses.

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Goofs

The sailboat that Jung's wife gives him is clearly very modern with Dacron sails, nylon rigging and stainless steel cleats, none of which existed at the time.

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Quotes

Sabina Spielrein: [to Jung] I want you to punish me.

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Connections

Featured in Maltin on Movies: The Muppets (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Fantasie aus Walküre"
by Richard Wagner
Performed by Edison-Orchester Berlin
Under the direction of Max Büchner
Edison Goldguss-Walze 15278, Berlin 1905

User Reviews

There's Something Missing Here...

I must admit, going into this film, I was rather excited; I've enjoyed both of David Cronenberg and Viggo Mortensen's previous collaborations and my interest in both Freudian psychology/psychoanalysis and Michael Fassbender practically guaranteed that I would be seeing this film. I fear now, however, that my expectations may have been a bit too high.

I must admit, however, that I thought that Michael Fassbender and Viggo Mortensen played their roles very well, although Mortensen definitely didn't receive as much screen time as he deserved. Vincent Cassel definitely shone in his extended cameo as Otto Gross. I did have some issues with Keira Knightly's acting, however. I feel like she may have over exaggerated her actions, particularly in the beginning scenes where she is in the midst of hysteria.

However, my real problem with this film is that, for lack of a better term, it all seems a little too shallow. Events that should be important are skimmed over and not explained; to be honest, it doesn't particularly seem like anything of real importance happens in the film. The characters have little depth; despite the fact that they are all playing rather well known persons, there simply isn't anything to them other than a name. On top of this, despite what the taglines of the film and trailer seem to suggest, the relationship between Freud and Jung is hardly explored. For the most part, their scenes involve reading letters from the other. This is hardly compelling viewing.

Overall, I feel like this film would have been better if it had been longer. If the film had a running time of even two hours, compared to one and a half, more character development could have been inserted, particularly for Freud. In addition, more focus on Jung's relationship with Freud, rather than his relationship with Spielrein, would have been nice to see.

Here's hoping that any future collaborations between Cronenberg and Mortensen pack a bit more of a punch.