Eine dunkle Begierde (2011)
7KEine dunkle Begierde: Directed by David Cronenberg. With Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender, Vincent Cassel. A look at how the intense relationship between Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud gives birth to psychoanalysis.
“This review is pretty hard to write, because there is so much in this film that I enjoyed, and so much that I nearly cringed at. Cronenberg has been a master of taking complex psychological themes and giving them terrifying conclusions, while making powerful statements on modern society. And he has set the bar very high. The marriage of the director and a film on the origins of psychoanalysis couldu0026#39;ve been a match made in Heaven, but the film tries to deal with too much, without focussing on one single storyline, and not being able to do justice to any one of them.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film starts off with Sabina Spielrein and Carl Jungu0026#39;s first conversations while she was suffering from hysteria, and their relationship develops into a sexual one. While Carl Jung helps her develop her career in psychology, he finds fulfilment in her company. This storyline starts with much potential, but meanders to a halt. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe most enjoyable parts of the film were obviously the interactions between Jung and Freud. Michael Fassbenderu0026#39;s performance was genuine and passionate. And what can I say about Viggo Mortensen – it felt as if Sigmund Freud himself had time travelled to act in this film. This film captures beautifully how these two men feel an emotional affinity to each other, but have different ideas about psychoanalysis, which makes them constantly size each other up, consequently creating a rift between them. I felt that they deserved more screen time together and their interactions should have occupied the foreground.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe Jung-Spielrein storyline suffers from Jung mostly feeling guilty about cheating on his wife, and scenes with his wife in them seem quite unnecessary. I like Keira Knightley in a lot of her films, but she was miscast in this one. Her performance was shockingly bad and restricted me from getting immersed in the film and the characters. Instead, I was fully aware of watching someone act, and act badly. Vincent Cassel as Otto Gross makes a big impact in a small role. He has some controversial views on sexuality and eventually plays the serpent to Jungu0026#39;s Adam. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhile this film couldu0026#39;ve been a roller coaster ride of emotional, professional, sexual and psychological conflicts, it stays snuggled comfortably in between.”
