The Treatment

When frustrated, confused, and recently single Jake (Chris Eigeman) enters psychoanalysis, his plan is to receive some direction in life and rid himself of the miasmic stew of anxiety clamoring in his mind. But Jake’s therapist, the infamous Dr. Morales (Ian Holm), is a strict Freudian, and his unsettling methods of treatment aren’t exactly a cure for anxiety. In fact, Jake finds himself even more anxious, and as treatment continues, the doctor begins to appear at inconvenient times. Sometimes his appearances even take on the form of strange hallucinations. Unable to detach himself from the doctor’s overbearing presence in his life, Jake is at a loss and nearly hopeless that he’ll ever find autonomy, much less happiness. That is, until he meets Allegra (Famke Janssen), a beautiful woman, who is struggling to maintain custody of the child she and her recently deceased husband were in the process of adopting. Dr. Morales is completely against the relationship and strongly urges Jake to back away. And Jake himself is concerned as to whether or not Allegra really loves him, or merely needs him to pose as her husband so that she can complete the adoption process. But pressure from his doctor, as well as his own doubts about Allegra’s intentions, causes Jake to withdraw. And it is only then that he realizes how much he is really in love with Allegra. But his epiphany appears to have come too late. Can Jake battle the doctor’s strong psychic influence and embrace the life he’s always wanted? –Tribeca Film Festival