Storytelling is the oldest form of transmitting wisdom from one generation to another. We build our world on the stories we tell, which confers a great responsibility on the story teller, or, in our time, the movie makers. As Jung emphasized, stories also illustrate the insights found in centuries of human cultural and psychological development.
Our goal in offering the Jung and Film series is to provide a container for depth psychological engagement with the films. In addition to the emotional conflicts of the characters, the impact of the images, the interplay of colour and light, the subtleties of sounds and music, and the aesthetic beauty of many of the scenes all serve to engage the unconscious. This has the potential to activate the unconscious and allow integration of some unresolved issues and thus further our process of growth and individuation. Some films may thus induce an unexpected new consciousness in viewers.
The film stories we have chosen for the 2025 programme of Jung and Film evenings include the struggles for leadership in the Catholic church when a new pope is elected; the issue of gaslighting, isolation and control in relationships; the tensions and dilemmas surrounding honouring and breaking of traditions, and the importance of ancient wisdoms; the battle with the inevitability of aging; and the far-reaching positive consequences of one man’s ethical choice.
The format of our film evenings is that the attendees and facilitators watch the film together on the Zoom platform, followed by a discussion of the film, which includes contributions by facilitators and participants. Before each screening, the facilitators will circulate notes, which discuss and amplify the film.
It is our hope that viewers will become lost in the drama of the film and potentially access aspects of their own experiences and inner life, which they may then choose to share with others during the discussion.
