SABINA IS PSYCHED FOR EUROPEAN SCREEN
Copyright 2002 www.variety.com

[ January 2nd 2002 ]

Shooting wrapped in Turin in December on Roberto Faenza's provisionally titled "My Name Is Sabina Spielrein," one of the key Italian features aimed at the wider European market. The fact-based English-lingo period drama concerns the woman linked to the two founding fathers of modern psychoanalysis. Title character was a Russian Jew, diagnosed with schizophrenia in her late teens, who became the patient and, later, lover of Carl Gustav Jung.

After being cured and completing her studies, Spielrein developed avant-garde child psychiatry methods before being killed by occupying German troops in her native Rostov in 1942. Little was known about the woman until 1977, when correspondence between Jung, Spielrein and Sigmund Freud was discovered in Switzerland. Since then, she has been the subject of essays, theater pieces, novels and various film projects. Writer-director Faenza's pic will be the first to reach the screen.

Emilia Fox, who also stars in Roman Polanski's upcoming "The Pianist" and is the daughter of veteran Brit thesp Edward Fox, plays Spielrein. Iain Glen ("Lara Croft: Tomb Raider") stars as Jung, with Craig Ferguson ("Saving Grace") and Caroline Ducey ("Romance") as two present-day scholars researching the woman's life. Due for Italian release next fall via Medusa Film, the $6 million feature was produced by Elda Ferri through her Jean Vigo Italia banner. Pic's a co-production with London-based Cowboy Film and Les Films de Centaure of France.

Ferri, who produced Oscar-winner "Life Is Beautiful," also begins a long post-production stint this month on Roberto Benigni's effects-laden $40 million retelling of "Pinocchio." Miramax acquired worldwide rights excluding Italy for the pic last year in Cannes. Local opening is scheduled for Christmas via Cecchi Gori