The Strange Case of Wilhelm Reich

Wilhelm Reich started out as one of the more promising members of the second wave of Freudian psychoanalysts. For example, he worked to promote family planning and birth control to the working class, which was direly needed at the time, rather than setting up a cushy practice and making a killing listening to the petty problems of the bourgeoisie, like so many of his colleagues did. Another line of his was to proclaim a connection between sexual repression and fascism, which later became a fashionable stance with the Hippies, although it's become somewhat jaded since.

On the other hand, in his later life -- particularly after his emigration to the United States -- Reich also also engaged in snake oil witchcraft, claiming to have found physical evidence of a new natural energy form he called "Orgon", later of yet another energy he called "DOR" ("Deadly Orgon Radiation", sort of Orgon's evil twin). Because he built and marketed Orgon chambers and cloud busters (rain-making machines), he was eventually given a hefty two-year sentence and died after half a year in prison, probably from a heart attack.

Although much of Reich's later work is pretty much patent nonsense, he has enjoyed a small but steady followership among people who are intelligent enough to know better. And now they've made this film. It looks amazing, it has stunning camera-work and A-line actors such as Klaus-Maria Brandauer and Julia Jensch (as well as the hero of my teenage years, Sledge Hammer!-superstar David Rasche).

My problem with the film is that it is essentially 90 minutes of unabashed Reichian propaganda. It's the kingdom of light versus the evil empire: Reich makes rain and cures schizophrenia and infertility while his opponents lobotomize, nuke and brainwash. Great movie if you idolize Reich, not your cup of tea if you don't (or simply don't know enough about him).

Four points for Rasche.