Most people I know don’t listen to directors’ commentaries. I rarely did before I started reviewing Blu-rays for this site. But more often than not, a good commentary track raises my level of appreciation for a project, even if I wasn’t particularly moved by the film itself. Such is the case with A Dangerous Method, which I thought had some interesting ideas and conversations that failed to come together for a compelling narrative.
David Cronenberg‘s director’s commentary track highlights his level of research and keen attention to detail in boiling this decade-long saga tracking the relationship between Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) and his mentor Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen) during the early days of psychoanalysis down to 90 minutes. It really makes me admire the work he put into the film, even if it doesn’t make the film any better. Here are nine tidbits I found particularly interesting:
1.
A Credit to Letters
Cronenberg starts off talking about a choice he faces with every movie — whether to put the opening credits over a scene in the movie or do something more visually unique? In this case, the film’s opening credits take place over a backdrop of hand-written letters, immediately establishing that we’re in the era of letter writing. It’s appropriate considering the relationship between Jung and Freud was built inside envelopes and we learn a great deal about these characters through the written word. Cronenberg explains that Vienna had 5 to 8 mail deliveries a day during this time period (beginning in 1904) and that if you wrote a letter in the morning, you could expect a reply later that day. Crazy, right? My mom wishes I would reply to her texts that quickly.
2.
On Keira Knightley
Cronenberg comments on Keira Knightley‘s polarizing performance as Sabina Spielrien, the patient who creates a rift between Freud and Jung:
“I really have no patience for any critic who thinks it’s exaggerated or over-the-top, or raw or bad or anything like that. I really just think they misunderstand the movie and are ignorant of the disease of hysteria.”
Sure, it’s uncomfortable to watch, but that’s kind of the point.
3.
Hysteria
Hysteria, which at one point was thought to be exclusive to women, actually comes from the Greek word for uterus. They would even remove the uterus of women suffering from hysteria, believing there was some connection between the uterus and the disease.
4.
Storyboards?
Cronenberg doesn’t use storyboards. He doesn’t know how he’s going to shoot a scene until he actually gets the actors and crew into the room where a scene takes place. This allows the actors to remain spontaneous and help shape the choreography.
