Freud's Last Session 2023
“The real struggle is to keep trying, to come awake and stay awake.”
-C.S Lewis“From error to error, one discovers the entire truth. “
-Sigmund Freud
There is a problem with pain. Too often we either put it to the side or bury it deep within ourselves. If it decides to show itself beyond these self-made restraints we deal with it ourselves. No help needed. That's at least what we try to convey to the world around us as we struggle through our difficulties. There is indeed a problem with pain, but it is not that it exists. The problem is that we think we need to deal with it alone.
How do you deal with the seeming incongruities, between faith and mental health? You realize that these two realities actually belong together. They are not at war with one another as it is so often thought. God does not want us to go it alone. To white knuckle it through the hardships of life. We need the guidance, and help of others as much as we need it from Him.
Freud's Last Session presents all these realities with eloquence and patience. At first glance it may not seem like this fictionalized meeting between C.S Lewis and Sigmund Freud answers much. It offers us a lot though its answers seem few and far between. The answers that we seek though can be seen through the individuals that present these questions.
C.S Lewis seems to fall short discussing the problem of pain with Freud. Lewis, in fact, says that he does not have an answer to that question. Freud is in great physical pain throughout the film, and it is Lewis who is at his side. Lewis may not be able to do much in certain moments, though he is there ready to help when he is asked. In fact, Lewis is the only one there through the majority of the film.
Freud rebukes Lewis for believing in fairy tales and not paying attention to the real world. Though I find it fascinating that Freud seems to forget the God believing man who is sitting with him throughout all his pain.
There is much more I could say about this film, but I think that might lessen its impact for you. It is a great film that tries to really understand both of the individuals and Ideologies it tries to depict.
I think I will leave you with my response to Freud's ending remarks in this film.
“From error to error, one discovers the entire truth.”
A Christian believes that the greatest error in history, the killing of God, led to the salvation of all the world. We are all in some ways close to the truth. We just need a little faith to get all the way there.
I thought Freud's Last Session was fascinating, thought-proving and thoughtful in terms of its filmmaking approach. I hope in some way you do too.
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