Film as therapy for neurosis: A psychoanalytical evaluation of Kunle Afolayan’s October 1

Abstract

With the preponderance of civil unrest and poor families who are unable to afford three meals per day; high rates of unemployment, kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, Fulani herdsmen conflict and also threat of COVID-19; many of the populace have been left in states of depression and corresponding psychological traumas. These events have further aggrandised neurosis in some citizens in Nigeria today. However, film as a storytelling medium, has a great influence on the minds of the general public due to its audio-visual characteristics and potency to hypnotise the minds of the audience. No one would deny today that film is a popular art that shapes the mind-set of the audience and can be used in educating the public to be better citizens of their country. Consequently, the problem of study rests on the common erroneous notion that film is merely a source of entertainment or relaxation. This undermines film’s potentiality as a veritable psychoanalytical therapy needed in recent times to treat neurosis in Nigeria. Furthermore, the research, extols film as a functional psychoanalytical therapy that can challenge the audience to re-examine their mental states and compel them to make a positive change for their own good and that of the society at large. The research utilised the Psychoanalytical theory of Sigmund Freud’s The Ego and The Id, (1923), as theoretical frames for the study while evaluating kunle Afolayan’s October 1 as a case study for ascertaining the therapeutic nature of film suitable for treating neurosis. The content analysis and case study approaches of the qualitative research methodology was adopted for the study. Findings in this research indicated that, film is a gestalt of perception well suited for treating the neurosis in audience members aiding them to gain an in-depth knowledge of their mental wellbeing, and by extension correcting every maladjusted behaviour they exhibit. However, if film must remain therapeutic in this era, basic psychology study should be introduced in the theatre and film practice and filmmakers must gird themselves with those theories, in order to apply them in their films for the immediate benefit of the Nigerian society.