Well, this one is quite interesting. First of all Keira Knightley is good in this film - really good. I usually find her annoying, as she uses an angry face and loud voice as an acting proxy in many films. That is not what she does here. She plays Sabina Spielrein, a Russian Jew with a psychological problem who ends up in the mental hospital where Jung was working.
This is a true story. By all accounts, Sabina and Jung began and continued a romantic / sexual relationship once she was out of the hospital (but still his patient). This violated ethics for Jung, but that is not the focus of the film.
The focus of the film was the problem for me. There are many story lines: the relationship between Jung and Freud (father / son type issues, jealousy, professional competition); the role of Sabina and Emma (Jung's wife) in his life, Jung's interest in spiritualism. There are many topics and not one dominant theme. I think any one of these topics could have been looked at more deeply. In particular I would like to learn more about Sabina. She left the hospital, entered psychiatry and became one of the first female psychoanalysts. She returned to Russia and practiced, and was eventually killed by the Nazis. That's quite a life, and it ended too soon.
The sexual problems in the beginning of the film are not introduced in a titillating manner, and they are resolved quickly. Cronenberg does not dwell on the sex, though the affair is a constant topic. This movie is more of a docudrama, and is brought to life with amazing artistry. The set direction and costumes are lovely. I would recommend this film to people who enjoy a learning experience. It made me think, which is a good thing.
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