Clash of the Titans

 

“Clash of the Titans”

A Review of Freud’s Last Session by Nick Olszyk

 

Distribution: Theatrical

MPAA Rating, PG-13

USCCB Rating: Not Rated at the Time of this Review

Reel Rating, Three Reels            

 

            In September of 1939, Sigmund Freud (Anthony Hopkins) was living out his final days in a modest London country house. Like many elderly intelligentsia, he spent most of his time just shooting the breeze with a variety of artists, politicians, academics, and anyone who tickled his curiosity. There is a record that, shortly before his death, he spent one afternoon entertaining a “young Oxford professor.”  Playwright Mark St. Germain imagines that this unnamed teacher was C.S. Lewis (Michael Goode), and now director Matthew Brown has brilliantly adapted his stage play for the big screen. Any flaws of the production, and there are a few, are overshadowed by the pure joy of seeing two cultural titans of the 20^th century engage in a battle of wits over the soul of the West. It’s just as fun as Godzilla vs. Kong but with just a little less structural damage to the house.

            When Lewis arrives at Freud’s home, his host’s first reaction is to complain. “You’re very late,” the old master says gruffly. Lewis explains that the trains were delayed because they were carrying children to the countryside to escape the blitz. Freud seems unfazed. His purpose for summoning the young teacher was to discuss his first book The Pilgrim’s Regress, an allegorical spin of Bunyan’s famous work that includes a criticism of Freud’s philosophy. Over the course of several hours, they will discuss many things: the existence of God, the human mind, romance, suffering, homosexuality, freedom, the fate of the West, and on and on and on. There is also a minor subplot involving Freud’s daughter Anna (Liv Fries) and Sigmund’s dependance on her as his health fades. Eventually, they say their goodbyes and leave without convincing the other but both the wiser for their conversation.

            It is likely – though not impossible – that this meeting never took place. Yet, the clash of their ideals was quite real and still reverberates today. Their conversation starts with a basic debate about the existence of God. Freud acknowledges the important role of symbolism, mystery, and community that theism provides but views it as a crutch for dealing with the world. In his view, science – especially his own psychoanalysis – has replaced this need and is the truth anyway. Lewis used to believe this but ultimately found scientific explanations for his observations wanting. He beautifully articulates his Argument from Desire, which shows the artistic aspirations of man as proof of God, to which Freud merely chuckles and waves away as foolishness. These competing worldviews – an enchanted verses reductionistic cosmos – still frame the minds of men today and affect all aspects of life from sex to family to politics to war to the architecture of modern churches. This debate, despite its visual simplicity, is fascinating. Hopkins is one of the greatest actors of all time, and Goode also holds his own against the master. The writing and acting are superb. It’s a rare for a single conversation to hold a two hour film, but now two great movies have achieved this feat (the other being My Dinner with Andre).

            While this conversation is compelling, it is hard to tell who “won” the debate. Luckily, there is an easier way. Jesus says we can recognize true prophets “by their fruit.” Lewis is calm, collected, kind, generous, and chaste. This isn’t to say he doesn’t have faults, but he is honest about them and “boasts of his weakness.” Freud, on the other hand, is arrogant, disoriented, dismissive, drug addicted, and actively contemplating suicide. His also is aware of his faults but excuses them as a part of the human condition that everyone shares. If all behaviors are simply the product of one’s involuntary mind, then one cannot really sin…or do good.

            The movie ends with the filmmakers attempting to vindicate both people in a somewhat dishonest fashion. Freud and his daughter are held up as model scientists who changed the world, despite admitting his suicide and her homosexual affairs. Meanwhile, Lewis is only casually mentioned as a Christian apologist but lauded for financially assisting refugee children during World War II. A better test would be the personal holiness of the individual and whether these individuals led souls and cultures to Christ. The answer to this should be obvious.

This article first appeared in Catholic World Report on December 22nd, 2023.