Psychoanalytic Film Club – The Lighthouse

A joint screening and panel discussion presented by The Harry Guntrip Psychotherapy Trust and PsychEd.

Join us for a visceral cinematic experience and an enriching clinical dialogue. We are proud to present a screening of Robert Eggers’ acclaimed psychological horror The Lighthouse, followed by a panel discussion that brings together experienced consultants and the next generation of clinicians.

The Film

Set on a remote and mysterious New England island in the 1890s, The Lighthouse is a hypnotic and hallucinatory tale of two lighthouse keepers, played by Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. Shot in stark monochrome and a claustrophobic aspect ratio, the film drags the viewer into the characters’ descent into madness as a storm traps them in isolation.

Beyond its role as a piece of Gothic cinema, the film serves as a rich text for inquiry. It offers a brutal examination of the fragile nature of the self when removed from society, exploring the interplay between dominance and submission, the surfacing of repressed drives, and the mythological weight of the “Father.”

The Discussion

Following the screening, we will hold an open forum to bridge the gap between cinematic art and clinical theory. While our panel will apply a psychoanalytic lens to the film—considering themes such as the collapse of the “holding environment”—prior knowledge of psychoanalytic theory is not required to participate.

We aim to create a collaborative space where students and professionals can learn from one another. For medical students and those early in their training, this is a unique opportunity to witness how experienced psychiatrists and psychotherapists conceptualize complex mental states, psychosis, and human behavior outside of the rigid criteria of diagnostic manuals. We warmly invite questions and reflections from the floor, hoping to spark a discussion that is as educational for those exploring psychiatry as it is stimulating for seasoned analysts.

The Panel

We are delighted to welcome a distinguished panel of clinicians to guide our reflection, chaired by Dr Alex Harbinson (Speciality Doctor in Forensic Psychiatry and Trustee of the Harry Guntrip Psychotherapy Trust).

The panel includes:

• Dr Vikram Luthra – Consultant Medical Psychotherapist and Psychoanalyst

• Dr Anuradha Menon – Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyst

• Dr Mohammed Qadri – Consultant Medical Psychotherapist and Forensic Psychiatrist

• Dr Chris Douglas – Consultant Medical Psychotherapist

About the Organizers

This event represents a collaboration between two generations of the psychiatric community in Yorkshire.

The Harry Guntrip Psychotherapy Trust is a charity dedicated to supporting psychoanalytic training and education. It provides a forum for clinicians to engage with the theoretical underpinnings of their practice.

PsychEd is the Psychiatry Society at the University of Leeds. They represent a vibrant community of medical students and future clinicians with a keen interest in the complexities of mental health and the human condition.

CPD Accreditation

This event is accredited for 4 hours of CPD time for professional groups, subject to peer approval. Certificates of attendance will be available upon request.