Adieu, Lacan

Deeply moving, beautifully filmed and acted story of a woman searching for understanding of her life decisions, which direction to go. This search takes place in psychoanalytic room of Jacques Lacan, the famous French psychoanalyst. We never leave this room, bear witness to the patient and the doctor.

Fascinating experience.

I want to preface my review by saying that if you don't care much for introspection, the human condition, or deliberately paced films, Adieu Lacan is not for you! This film is made up of a series of sessions between a young woman who has immigrated to Paris from Brazil, and her therapist Lacan, who is an old frenchman. Not only do we witness her processing her story, but we get to see Lacan's side as he engages in questioning the process and his place in it. That's something I wish all therapists did!

I like having the opportunity to find out what a person is truly thinking and feeling (even if those people are subjects of a fictional film) and Adieu Lacan allows for that. The film is very thoughtful and also very well thought out. As a viewer I wondered how the film would stay visually engaging. I was rewarded by beautiful and contemplative compositions and editing. I watched this film a few months ago and it is still with me.

I think this is superb filmmaking!

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.

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.

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.