Adieu, Lacan

Movie history is replete with bad or unartistic representations of analyses. It is a real marvel that Adieu Lacan manages to be both entertaining, artistic, and, at the same time, true to how analysis begins, proceeds, and reaches an end. The three actors - David Patrick Kelly as the famous French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan, Ismenia Mendes as his analysand, and Antu Yacob as Lacan's secretary - really brings the analysis alive and sustain a high level of drama and interest in the characters from beginning to end. The directing by Richard Ledes also adds to the way the audience gets pulled into the drama of what is happening; and some of the camera work is very innovative and adds to the sense of intimacy and engagement without ever being voyeuristic. Purely as film, but especially if you want to appreciate the real drama and intellectual and emotional excitement of what analyses is, this is a must see film!

Films that faithfully portray psychoanalysis and what it truly involves are rare. This is one of them, and is not to be missed. This is true art, capturing the evanescent and imperceptible in the texture of human suffering and the body that listens.

First of all, I loved "Adieu Lacan" so much! I watched it twice and I knew very little about Lacan to start with. The direction, cinematography, and acting were stellar.

Adieu, Lacan is both a subtle tone poem and a bold foray into intellectual history. This is a film that will retain its value for the long haul. One of the great rebel minds of our time has found his champion. The film is directed with great confidence and aplomb, allowing the actors to give convincing, understated performances even while summoning the most consequential of themes and personages.

"Adieu, Lacan" explores with compassion and honesty the devastating effect of cultural shock; the director brilliantly allows us to "witness" the complex relationship between an immigrant and the language and culture of her new "homeland". This film is a feast for the ears with its witty dialogues but also for the eyes with its beautiful photography. A patient, a therapist and a discreet elusive character: the city of Paris.