French film production and distribution company Pathé is testing whether hypnosis can recreate the experience of watching a beloved movie for the first time. The experiment, called Pathé Rewind, will involve 30 selected movie fans working with hypnotist Victor Kraemer.
Registration has closed, and participants were chosen according to their film preferences, personal motivation, availability and willingness to appear in the promotion. Each selected person will first take part in an individual online session with Kraemer.
Immediately before the screening, the participants will undergo another hypnosis session. They will then watch a film on the big screen without retaining their previous familiarity with it. Pathé is considering The Matrix, Se7en, La La Land and Interstellar, with the final selection based on which title is most familiar to the group.
Pathé acknowledges that the experiment may not work and does not claim that hypnosis is an effective method for altering someone’s memories. Its disclaimer also states that the company accepts no liability for the outcome, effects or other consequences of the hypnosis sessions.
The cinema experiment is scheduled to take place on Monday, November 9, at Pathé Buitenhof in The Hague. According to Pathé, the project is intended to investigate whether hypnosis could contribute to a different kind of cinema experience.
Sources: IGN.