Puccini for Beginners

Psychoanalytic jargon pervades language, especially in New York City.

Samantha, announcing that she wants to break up with her romantic partner, writer Allegra, tells her, "You know what your problem is? You're conflicted." (0:07)

At a party Allegra meets philosophy student Philip in a rooftop garden. She tells him how she feels about the view, "Makes me want to jump." (0:11)

Philip tells Allegra, "Freud said there are no coincidences." (0:21)

Allegra tells Samantha, "Commit. That's what they do when you go to an insane asylum." (0:27)

Editor Nell, Allegra's former romantic partner pontificates, "Being alone you're bound to confront all those hideous issues that get sublimated when you're in a relationship." Allegra responds, "I always act them out." (0:29)

Allegra tells Philip, explaining why she's attracted to him, "I'm sure there's a perfectly good psychoanalytic reason for it." (0:30)

Philip's wife Grace tells Allegra, "I'm having a nervous breakdown." (0:32)

Nell analyzes Allegra, "... you found Grace onto whom you could project your conflict." (0:44)

acting out | conflict | Sigmund Freud | sublimation | suicide