45/27

Psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud invites Professor CS

Lewis to discuss the existence of God, Freud’s unique relationship with his daughter, and Lewis’ unusual relationship with his best friend’s mother. Anthony Hopkins had previously portrayed C.S. Lewis in the film Zemlja sjena (1993) 30 years before this film. Lewis is shown studying the Gospels when a woman who appears to be his wife calls him into bed. This film is set in 1939, but Lewis did not marry Joy Davidman Gresham until 1956.

Variations on the original theme op

The woman was actually Janie Moore, with whom Lewis lived until 1949. [last lines] Sigmund Freud: From Error to Error to Discover the Whole Truth. .. Aired on The 7PM Project: Episode 19 April 2024 (2024). 36, ‘Enigma’ Variation 9: NimrodComposer Edward Elgar Performed by Symfonický-orchestra Slovenského rozhlasu (as the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra) & Adrian Leaper (conductor) Licensed by permission of Naxos Music UK Ltd.

Lewis (Matthew Goode)

Freud’s Last Session is not a great film (probably more than 6 stars) when judged strictly as an opening and closing credits project. But there are enough interesting philosophical nuggets in director/writer Matt Brown’s effort – bolstered by one brilliant performance by an actor – to be enjoyable for those who might sit down to watch it. For a very basic overview, Freud’s Last Session imagines a fictional encounter – which may or may not have happened – between the titular psychoanalyst (Anthony Hopkins) and Christian apologist C. S. The two philosophical worldviews of Freud’s household trade, with the doctor’s daughter Anna (Liv Lisa Fries) struggling with her own relationship with her famous father as well as her close relationship with her colleague Dorothy Burlingham (Jodi Balfour).

A few lines really stuck with me

I’m not entirely sure if Freud’s Last Session was ever produced as a play, but if so, it might be a better format for it. Since the core of the film is an intellectual sparring match between two academics, it lends itself a bit oddly to the big screen format or presentation. Brown tries to flesh things out with Freud’s daughter plot and various flashbacks, but these devices feel a bit forced and ultimately distract from the “main event.” Fortunately, the film has two things in its corner: First, the back-and-forth performance is actually thought-provoking (if treading somewhat familiar religion vs. atheism ground). Second, Hopkins continues to deliver transformative performances.

Overall, I settled for 7/10 stars for Freud’s Last Session

His fans won’t regret going in just for his turn. Technically, it’s not even “that good” of a film, but Hopkins’ performance and the general setting are enough for those even nominally interested in the premise to find enough to enjoy.