The Soul Keeper (Prendimi l'anima)

- THE TRUE STORY OF SABINA SPIELREIN CAME TO LIGHT ONLY RECENTLY... -

...THANKS TO THE DEDICATION OF SCHOLARS AND RESEARCHERS... -

...WORKING IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE WORLD. -

- THIS FILM IS IN MEMORY OF AN EXCEPTIONAL WOMAN... -

...AND THOSE WHO WANTED TO DO HER JUSTICE. -

Richard, I haven't run away...

...but I wanted to be alone for my last meeting with Sabina.

There's something I haven't told you.

My real name is Marie Franquin Spielrein.

I was born in France, but my family originally came from Russia.

My great-grandparents managed to get out when Stalin came to power.

For years I've been longing to come to Russia...

...to learn all I could about Sabina Spielrein.

You'll undoubtedly wonder, when you hear this message, if we're related...

...since we have the same family name.

Maybe we are, but that's hardly important.

I feel by now...

...Sabina and I are closely related in our souls.

ZURICH, 1904 -

My head! I've left my head in the carriage!

We really don't know what to do, Professor.

She's been like this for a year now...

...ever since her little sister, Irina, died from pneumonia.

She's getting worse every day.

We've come all the way from Russia.

We thought if we brought her here to you, maybe you could help us.

I won't do it again! I won't, I promise!

I won't do it again, please believe me...

...but don't keep me here, please don't keep me here!

No... no... no!

You filthy old pig!

Tell your slut to get her hands off me!

You bastards!

I'm not your whore!

(... my mother and father have gone back to Russia and left me here... )

(... frightened. I don't want to be alone.)

(... that way when they come back all they'll find will be my clothes... )

(I'm sorry I shan't be here to see their faces!)

(To my mother, I leave the notes of Tumbalalaika, my favourite song.)

(What can burn for years without end?)

(... but only love can burn for years without end.)

So much has been written and recorded...

...about Sabina's treatment in Zurich.

But no-one's ever bothered to find out what happened to her...

...after she returned to Russia.

That's why I wanted to come to Moscow...

...to discover some facts about the White Nursery...

...the infant school where she was last seen.

I've often wondered what fascinated you about Sabina.

Certainly I never imagined that we'd meet...

...as a result of a theft.

(There are rabbits... no, hares, in my room.)

(They're all black and they've got long ears like sheep!)

(I get into bed and they're already there waiting for me.)

(As soon as they see me, they start laughing. I yell at them:)

(..."I'm tired, leave me alone! I don't want to play any more!".)

Good morning, Miss Spielrein.

I'm Dr. Jung.

Professor Bleuler has put me in charge of your case.

No, gently.

Go away! Let me die!

Leave us.

- Why do you want to die? - Because I'm wicked!

That's hardly reason enough.

Anyway, I'm here to stop you.

So, which of us do you think is going to win, Miss Spielrein?

I'd like to try a new treatment with you.

Nothing forced. No cold showers...

...no shackling you to the bed.

It consists essentially in letting you talk.

Whatever comes into your head. You talk, I listen.

Shall I tell you what they do on Mars?

Please.

What do they do on Mars?

They don't have babies.

Why not?

Because no-one makes love on Mars!

How do you know that?

I've been there.

I wish I'd been to Mars.

No-one ever takes any notice when I say things like that.

Do you like children, Miss Spielrein?

Tell me...

...don't be afraid.

You can't cure me, Doctor.

Why not?

Because you are well, and I am not.

- So? - So...

So you can't understand me.

Do all Russian girls read French newspapers?

Excusez-moi, je n'ai pas le temps!

- Sorry, what? - Leave me alone!

I don't care if you're Russian or you're French.

What you are is a thief!

Does the name Sabina Spielrein mean anything to you?

Give it back!

My name's Richard Fraser...

...I teach history at Glasgow University.

I think your acquisition might be quite useful to me.

Can I at least have a look at it?

- And if not, you'll report me? - Well, it's an idea.

Why don't we go and have a drink somewhere and talk about that?

- Do I have a choice? - Yes, tea or coffee!

I'm sorry if I came on a bit strong, but I'm a historian.

Anytime a document is removed from the official archives...

...it's lost forever. - Monsieur Historian...

...here in Russia anytime a document is consigned to the official archives...

...it is lost forever!

Look...

...I'm doing research into the former Soviet Union.

I think the addition of psychoanalysis could be very interesting.

I have an idea...

You speak Russian and English, and you obviously know your way around.

- I need an interpreter... - You want a thief to work for you?

Well, beggars can't be choosers.

Anyway, you can go on with your own research. We can pool our resources.

It's a nice idea...

...but my research grant was not exactly generous...

...and I've used it up. I go back to Paris on Saturday.

Right, I'm not suggesting you work for free. I'll pay you.

How much?

Board and lodging, and six hundred dollars a week.

You sing beautifully.

I like sculpting myself, you know.

But I prefer stone to clay.

You're very talented. Where did you learn?

My uncle taught me. In Russia.

- Is he a sculptor? - No, he's an alchemist.

- He taught me how to make paper out of rags. - Did he just?

I'm rather keen on doing experiments that are somewhat...

...unorthodox.

- What kind of experiments? - I tend to sense things before they happen.

Psychic intuition, if you like.

I've lost my legs.

Do you often fall like that?

- Who's that woman spying on us? - What woman?

There's a woman at that window. She's staring at me.

That's my apartment. I don't see anyone there.

So, Miss Spielrein...

...have you ever fallen like that before?

It happened once.

When?

My cat had some kittens.

I said I wanted to be like her...

...and my father lost his temper.

My mother said there was nothing wrong with me wanting to have children.

After all, I was a woman, wasn't I?

Don't be frightened.

I just wanted to show you how I would have nursed my kittens.

Guardian angel...

...my doctor is fair-haired and handsome...

...even more so when he smokes his pipe.

Tomorrow I shall ask him if he is married.

I saw you in the garden this morning with your new patient.

- What's wrong with her? - The clinical diagnosis is hysteria...

...but there's more to it.

Why don't you speak to Freud?

This is the first time you've used his method, isn't it?

Yeah... Yes, I'll write to him.

Sometimes I feel you allow your patients...

...to affect you rather too deeply.

It's the only way I know how to heal.

Perhaps she doesn't want to grow up.

Wants to be a child again.

I suspect there's some unresolved Oedipal complex.

Makes her feel so guilty she actually wants to be punished.

The two of you should get along well together then.

I was thinking of you and Freud.

I mean, he's virtually appointed you his son and heir...

...and you look upon him as a father.

I wonder if you'll end up trying to kill each other.

- Good morning. - Good morning.

Professor Fraser booked a room for me...

...Marie Franquin. - Marie Franquin...

Yes, Room 122.

I'm sorry.

What's going on?

- Did you ask for communicating rooms? - Of course not!

Okay...

- Well, we can get you another one. - If you want...

I mean, I'm not dangerous. Anyway, we can always keep it locked.

Listen, while you're here...

...could you translate page 138 and 139?

- Yes, of course. - Thanks, and can you not smoke here...

...because the smell'll come through. - Oh yes, I'm sorry.

- Thanks. See you later. - See you.

Chair.

Chair?

Don't think, just respond.

- Chair. - Table.

- Soft. - Warm.

Lake.

Water.

- Snow. - Purity.

- Dog. - Cat.

You know, you look like a wild cat sometimes, Dr. Jung.

- Russia. - Home.

I didn't know this could be so much fun.

Just one word, please.

- French. - Wife!