Matter of Heart: The Extraordinary Journey of C.G. Jung

For those desiring an introductory overview to the life & work of Carl Jung, this documentary is an excellent starting point. In his interweaving of myth, psychology, and art, Jung developed a rich & fulfilling model of the human psyche, replete with possibility & treasure ... and also with dangers. As he said many times, his primary role was as a doctor & healer. The development of his school of psychology was based upon practical experience in mental hospitals, observing & working with patients in dire need of understanding. Jung brought his considerable wealth of knowledge & powerful personality to their aid. In so doing, he began his lifelong work of exploring the depths of the Unconscious & the varied powers that dwell within, controlling far more of our conscious lives than we know or care to believe.What's especially fascinating about this film is the extent to which we get to know Jung as a human being, as recounted by his colleagues & friends. It's important to acknowledge him as a real human being, complete with flaws & foibles like any other, rather than as some impossibly inhuman idol, existing somewhere beyond our everyday lives. A plaster god has nothing to offer those in need of healing; a flesh & blood person with Jung's insight can do much. In the course of this film we get a sense of the man at work, fascinated by the vast realm he had discovered, constantly revising his ideas as he learned more, doing his best not to fall into rigid dogma. He always claimed that his work was incomplete, and that he expected others to refine & expand it.In addition to the documentary itself, the DVD also contains "Face to Face: Professor Jung" from 1959, in which he appeared on a BBC chat show to discuss his work; and color excerpt from an unfinished documentary set at his Bollingen Tower retreat. Together, these films offer in-depth evidence of a brilliant, multi-faceted mind grappling with the mysteries not only of the human psyche, but of life itself. Highly recommended!

Carl Gustav Jung, the Swiss doctor and psychoanalyst is without a doubt one of the most influential figures of the twentieth century. While his influence may not be easily discerned by the populace at large, his ideas and concepts have become pervasive nonetheless. He is the man who gave us such concepts as: synchronicity, archetypes and the collective unconscious.The genius of the man was not that he came up with anything new, in fact exactly the opposite is true. He examined the intuitive knowledge of antiquity and the few 'primitive' cultures that still practiced the 'old ways' and simply translated that knowledge into modern day terminology. In other words, he brought ancient occult concepts and beliefs into the modern world. Thanks to the advent of 'Jungian Psychology' the interior landscape of dreams and visions once again became valid, acceptable fields of study after centuries of ridicule and disbelief.For those who wish to rebel against what I just said, please read his writings first before you cast your stones in my direction. Jung himself acknowledged this fact. He referred to himself as the old witchdoctor and when he talked about the shamanic inclination he answered affirmatively, "I have that inclination."It's unfortunate that we don't have film of Jung earlier in life. What is presented in this documentary is primarily interviews with those who knew or worked with Jung and those individuals interviewed such as Marie-Louise Von Franz, Laurens Van Der Post and Aniela Jaffe are quite old as they search their memories to give us a glimpse into the persona of the great psychoanalysist.Be that as it may, this is a wonderful DVD and a must for those devotees of Carl Jung. There is a great deal of insight into the person of Jung provided by those who knew and loved him the most. When you listen to these interviews notice the numerous accounts that attest to uncanny insight or foreknowledge exhibited by the mysterious Dr. Jung. Something more was going on than just insight. There is also footage of a wonderful interview with him late in life that allows you to experience the man firsthand. That alone makes this DVD documentary a worthwhile purchase.

I give 4 stars because of how slow this starts, complete with gloomy music. This DVD is full of interviews of folks (many who became analysts) who knew Jung and had analysis with him, as well as interviews with Jung himself. Very interesting information.