Einstein slid into Freud's DMs about war. The answer? Still loading in 2025.
In 1932, Albert Einstein was invited by the League of Nations to address a letter on any subject to any person. He chose to correspond with Sigmund Freud about avoiding war. To this day, the correspondence about war of two great thinkers of all time proves to be more relevant than ever. Inspired by this correspondence between Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud almost a century ago, the film Why War traces the roots of war, and embarks on a search for an explanation of the savagery of wars that inhabit our world.
Direction
Gitai's signature fragmented, essayistic style
Writing
Direct text from the actual letters, no Hollywood fluff
Director
Amos Gitai
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Einstein and Freud only exchanged these letters once; they never met in person despite living in the same era.
The original 1932 correspondence was published as a pamphlet that sold out immediately — then was largely ignored as World War II began.
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