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:

Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 18 wins & 27 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.

---

Plot Keywords:

dream interpretation | 1900s | instrument | spanking a woman | erotic bondage | 

---

Taglines:

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

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content and brief language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

UK Germany Canada Switzerland USA

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 USA:

$167,953, 18 November 2011, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$5,702,083, 29 April 2012

Company Credits

Production Co:

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

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Keira Knightley, at first she didn't know how to play her character's hysteria. When she read some of Spielrein's notes she noticed the woman described her condition as being like "a demon or a dog". Knightley then started to pull faces and contacted David Cronenberg through Skype to show him the results until they both agreed on one.

---

Goofs

Both Jung (Fassbender) and Freud(Mortensen) speak in refined English accents throughout. It is however very clear that English stands in for German, thus each character is assumed to be speaking highly educated German. Jung notes that Spielrein (Knightley) speaks fluent German, albeit with an accent; and indeed Knightley speaks with a Russian accent in the role. Other characters, however, are often found to speak with German accents for some reason, which should be utterly unnecessary if English serves as the stand-in for German.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Carl Jung: [to his new patient] Good morning... I'm Dr. Jung. I admitted you yesterday.
Sabina Spielrein: I'm not... I'm not mad, you know.
Carl Jung: Let me explain what I have in mind. I propose that we meet here, most days, to talk for an hour or two.
Sabina Spielrein: Talk?
Carl Jung: Yes. Just talk. See if we can identify what's troubling you. So as to distract you as little as possible, I'm going to sit there, behind you. I'm going to ask you to try not to turn around and look at me under any circumstances. Now...
[...]

---

Connections

Featured in Breakfast: Episode dated 1 September 2011 (2011)

---

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

"A dangerous method"

It's always difficult to review a movie based on psychology because sometimes what's difficult to understand is too easily categorized as illogical or bad execution.I heard so much criticism towards the last movie by Cronenberg.I completely disagree with those bad reactions."A dangerous method"is a brilliant ,absorbing and thought provoking movie that boasts excellent performances by the three leading actors.The direction is great and Cronenberg once again shows his uncommon ability to tell a story in a very original way although the dialogs are sometimes hard to follow,probably due to its subject.But there are really breathtaking moments such as the scenes of the Spielrein therapy.This leads me to Knightley performance.It was a brave,shocking and terrific performance that it was criticized without a reason.I didn't catch all that hatred.She has always been so good("Pride e prejudice","Atonement" and "Never let me go")but here she left her comfort zone to bare herself and gives one of the most exiting performances of the year.Oscar worthy material.Fassbender was equally great in the role of Jung and it's a pleasure to watch this splendid rising A-list actor.Mortensen was good but I fear not as good as Fassbender and Knightley.Cassell is always Cassell.He's a good actor but he plays always the role of the daring man.I think that "A dangerous method" is one of the best movies of the year.It succeeds to transcend from his particular story to focus on the hidden instincts associated with the human nature.My vote is 8/10.