FILM ENCOUNTERS WITH PSYCHOLOGY: The Servant

The conversation after the film will be conducted by Justyna Lipka, MSc from the Institute of Psychology of the University of Silesia in Katowice.

Joseph Losey's “The Servant” is a precisely constructed psychological thriller. It begins as an intimate portrait of luxurious London life: a young, wealthy man hires a personal butler to tidy up his everyday life. With each subsequent scene, the film reveals more and more ambiguities, and the relationship between the characters gradually loses its obvious framework.

Tony is carefree, charming and used to a comfortable life. Barrett — discreet, competent and impeccably courteous. Their relationship quickly ceases to be a mere arrangement between employer and employee. The situation is complicated by the presence of Tony's fiancee, Susan, who does not hide her prejudice against Barrett.

The “servant” hypnotizes and consistently undermines a sense of confidence, showing how easily appearances can be misleading.

Joseph Losey is one of the most fascinating and today surprisingly rarely recalled figures in British cinema of the 20th century. American who emigrated to the United Kingdom, where he made his most important films such as “The Messenger” and “Accident”.

The film is an adaptation of the novel by Robin Maugham, and the script was written by the prominent playwright and later Nobel Prize winner in literature Harold Pinter, which can be seen in the dense dialogues and tensions hidden between the words. One of the highest-rated roles in his career was created here by the acclaimed actor Dirk Bogarde. “The Servant” was honored with three BAFTA awards, among others, and was nominated for the Golden Lion of the Venice Festival. To this day, it remains one of the most disturbing and uncompromising films of British cinema of the 60s.