ĊineXjenza is screening the 2011 film A Dangerous Method at St James Cavalier Cinema, Valletta, today.

The film, directed by David Cronenberg, stars Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender and Vincent Cassel. The plot revolves around Sabina Spielrein (Knightley), who, suffering from hysteria, is hospitalised under the care of Carl Jung (Fassbender), who has begun using Sigmund Freud’s (Viggo Mortensen) talking cure with some of his patients. The married Jung and Spielrein eventually become lovers.

Meanwhile, 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. However, 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.

After the screening there will be a discussion with the audience regarding the advantages and disadvantages of psychoanalysis, led by an expert from the University of Malta.

A Dangerous Method will be screened at St James Cavalier Cinema, Valletta, today Thursday at 7pm. Admission is free. Booking is not required. Snacks and refreshments will be served during the subsequent discussion.