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MESMER

(1994)

                        This movie, directed by Roger Spottiswoode ("The sixth day") in 1994, is a biopic of Franz-Anton Mesmer (Alan Rickman). At the XVIII ^th century, after his medicine studies at Vienna, this german physician decided to open his own office to test his theories about the mineral and animal magnetism. The mineral magnetism consisted in treating the patients with a magnet, even though the animal magnetism was done with the hand movement on the sick part or on the whole body. Mesmer was the inventor of the famous "tub" too, made with metal rods that the people put on the sick parts of their body, during that Mesmer talked and touched them. He made some "miracles" like curing blind people but it was criticized and called into question by the Church and the classical physicians, who didn't believe it. In fact, in the movie, Mesmer cured the blind pianist Maria-Theresa Paradies (Amanda Ooms), with whom he had a more intimate relationship than with his other patients. After his exile from Austria, Mesmer settled in France where he was really appreciated by the Ladies of the Louis XVI Court, who often used the "tubs".

                        "Mesmer" is an interesting movie because it relates the life of a physician who had unusual et mysterious practices. The images and the sets are really beautiful. Alan is great and very cute in it, as always :)

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