David Cronenberg’s upcoming adaptation of the play “The Talking Cure” has been renamed A Dangerous Method. I suppose that’s a bit more exciting and subversive than the original title. The film takes place on the eve of World War I as Sigmund Freud and student-turned-rival Carl Jung give birth to psychoanalysis while a woman named Sabina finds herself the battleground of their theories and emotions. Viggo Mortensen will portray Sigmund Freud, with Michael Fassbender playing Carl Jung and Keira Knightley as Sabina. Vincent Cassel also stars. Christopher Hampton, the original playwright, handled the adaptation himself. Notably, the film marks the third straight collaboration between Mortensen and Cronenberg following A History of Violence and Eastern Promises.
David Cronenberg had this to say about the project’s appeal:
I have long been drawn to the story of erotic daring between these two good doctors and the woman who both divided and defined them. History can only hint at the psychological and physical terrain they opened up, but a film can explore it.
Production is scheduled to kick off on May 17th for 10 weeks in Germany. I have my fingers crossed for an end of the year release.
I think the official Freudian assessment of my reaction would be: Woohooo!
But, Mr. Cronenberg, dear sir, the all important question is: will it be bloody?
Especially since, Freud being Freud, it will most likely, somewhere, be naked . . .