A drama about the early days of psycho-therapy may not sound like a potential audience-grabber, but when one of the most individual directors of recent decades, David Cronenberg, assembles a mouth-watering cast to do so, you have to pay attention. Thus we have ‘A Dangerous Method’, starring actor-of-the-moment Michael Fassbender, and everyone’s favourite lady-pirate, Kiera Knightley.
It’s the early twentieth century, and a world prepares for the First World War. In Switzerland, promising psychiatrist Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) treats his patients using newly formed methods of psychiatry, or ‘the talking cure’, mainly inspired by his idol Signmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen). The pair meet and begin a close friendship, sharing their ideas on the vastly growing new method of treatment. Things change, however, when troubled Russian woman Sabina Spielrein (Kiera Knightley) comes to his clinic. Although vastly intelligent, Sabina is scarred by sexual abuse, but with treatment from Jung overcomes her problems and becomes embroiled in an affair with her doctor. This dalliance, and a growing difference in opinion, threatens to drive a wedge between Jung and his mentor Freud.
The subject matter may be a little dry for many unfamiliar with the history of Jung and Freud, but Cronenberg brings these two power struggles to life. On one hand there is the psycho-sexual relationship between Jung and Spielrein, which blurs the doctor-patient relationship and threatens to halt her recovery and wreck his marriage. On the other hand, there is the clash between the two psychiatrists, and what happens when the pupil overtakes the master.
The real value, however, is in the performances from the central trip of actors. Knightley, who has been hit-and-miss with her choices of role in the past, is stunning as Sabina, and holds her own against two acting heavyweights. Fassbender, currently on the greatest hot streak of any actor apart from perhaps Ryan Gosling, is engrossing as the focal point of the film; while Mortensen is transformed and gives a very different portrayal of perhaps the best known figure in the piece.
Likely to leave the Friday night blockbuster crowd bored to tears, this won’t be for everyone, but those familiar with their local art house cinema will delight in some complex performances and dark, probing drama.
'A Dangerous Method' is in cinemas now.
Entertainment News