Citation

Lane RC. J. Contemp. Psychother. 1995; 25(2): 123-134.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/BF02306686

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The Prince of Tides is the characterological study of and interaction between two families, that of Savannah, the patient and Dr. Susan Lowenstein, the psychiatrist. In order to treat Savannah, recovering from a suicide attempt, fraternal twin Tom (Savannah's memory) comes to New York to assist in his sister's treatment. Tom becomes the patient relating the family dynamics in six cinematic flashbacks. These show the parental disharmony, Tom's strong Oedipal attachment, maternal betrayal and Tom's wish for revenge, his incomplete mourning for his older brother Luke, and its effects on his life. The relationship between Susan, her husband and son, Bernard, and how each interacts with Tom is also described. Susan's erotic countertransference is analyzed, and the role of the woman therapist in the cinema discussed. © 1995 Human Sciences Press, Inc.

Language: en