''Mesmer'' is a 1994 Austrian-Canadian-British-German biographical film directed by

Roger Spottiswoode John Roger Spottiswoode (born 5 January 1945) is a Canadian-British director, editor and writer of film and television. Early life He was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and was raised in Britain. His father Raymond Spottiswoode was a British ...

from a script by

Dennis Potter Dennis Christopher George Potter (17 May 1935 – 7 June 1994) was an English television dramatist, screenwriter and journalist. He is best known for his BBC television serials '' Pennies from Heaven'' (1978), ''The Singing Detective'' (198 ...

. It stars

Alan Rickman Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman (21 February 1946 – 14 January 2016) was an English actor and director. Known for his deep, languid voice, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and became a member of the Royal Shakespe ...

Franz Anton Mesmer Franz Anton Mesmer (; ; 23 May 1734 – 5 March 1815) was a German physician with an interest in astronomy. He theorised the existence of a natural energy transference occurring between all animated and inanimate objects; this he called "anim ...

and depicts his radical new ways as a pioneering physician.

Plot

In 18th century

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

believes he is able to heal patients by drawing out something unique from inside his patients. However, the only ones who seem to have improvements are the young ladies he helps. His controversial methods and their consequences lead him to leave Vienna and head to

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...

. However, once there, he takes advantage of his unique methods to provide entertainment, which he is censured for by other doctors.

Main cast

Details

The movie was released on videocassette by First Look and in Canada in 1994 by Cineplex Odeon and MCA. In 2000, the movie was released on DVD by Image Entertainment, but has been discontinued since. As of January 3, 2010, there have been no plans made to release a new DVD. This movie was shot in Vienna, Austria with the interior shots filmed at Esterházy Palace in Fertõd, Hungary. Mesmer was released in August 1994 in Canada, at the Montréal World Film Festival.

Quotes

: (with sarcasm) "Professor Doctor Stoerk, can I help you at all? I deal with most derangements, sir."

Awards

External links

* * * 1994 films 1990s biographical drama films American biographical drama films Austrian biographical drama films British biographical drama films Canadian biographical drama films English-language Austrian films English-language Canadian films English-language German films Films directed by Roger Spottiswoode Films with screenplays by Dennis Potter Biographical films about physicians Films set in the 1770s Films set in the 1780s Films set in Vienna Films set in Paris Films scored by Michael Nyman 1994 drama films 1990s English-language films 1990s American films 1990s Canadian films 1990s British films Films about disability {{bio-film-stub