Summary: Set on the eve of World War I, the story is based on the turbulent relationships between fledgling psychiatrist Carl Jung, his mentor Sigmund Freud, and Sabina Spielrein, the troubled but beautiful young woman who comes between them.
Analysis: It seems fitting that a story about two of the most influential figures in the endeavour of understanding the human mind is being told by a filmmaker who earned his reputation on some of the most psychologically f*cked up movies ever made. Certainly one of my most keenly anticipated films of next year, Cronenberg's €15 million historical biopic about the birth of psychoanalysis marks the helmer's third collaboration with Viggo Mortensen after the brilliant "A History of Violence" and the strong "Eastern Promises".
Here, Cronenberg is helped by a stellar supporting cast; on location filming in the likes of Vienna, Cologne and Berlin; and a screenplay adapted by Oscar-winning writer Christopher Hampton from his 2002 stage play "The Talking Cure". The play itself was based on a 1993 non-fiction book by John Kerr entitled "A Most Dangerous Method" which is where the film's title comes from.
Cronenberg has reinvented himself in recent years from a master of venereal horror to more mature and accessible dramatic works. Here he tackles a setup which some have already compared to his earlier twisted medical tale "Dead Ringers", however don't expect much in the way of gynecological terror this time out as apparently it's "like nothing he’s ever done before" said actor Vincent Cassel in a recent interview. Cassel added that what will be seen will be more 'fun' than we might expect, but whatever tone it sets I'm extremely curious about this one.
