
The Substance: Albert Hofmann's LSD (2011)★ 7.1/10
- Documentary
- History
- Biography
Directed by: Martin Witz
Written by: Martin Witz
In 1943, Albert Hofmann discovered LSD. Fractions of a milligram are enough to turn our framework of time and space upside down. The story of a drug - its discovery in the Basel chemistry lab, the first experiments by Albert Hofmann on himself, the 1950s experiments of the psychiatrists, the consciousness researchers, the artists. Could it actually be possible to find a path to the core of our human existence by means of a chemical? Spirituality at the flick of a switch? Do the enigmatic effects of this drug really help us to better understand the human soul? Could LSD be an instrument of contemporary psychiatry? Of modern brain research?
Directed by
Written by
Cast & crew
Trevor J. Rolingnarrator in English version (voice)
Hanspeter Müllernarrator in German version (voice)
Mario Scarabellinarrator in Italian version (voice)
Albert HofmannSelf (archiveFootage)
Stanislav GrofSelf - psychiatrist
Martin A. LeeSelf - author
James S. KetchumSelf - U.S. Army Colonel (Retired), Medical Corps
Franz X. VollenweiderSelf - neuroscientist, University of Zürich
Ken KeseySelf (archiveFootage)
Carolyn GarciaSelf - Merry Pranksters
Timothy LearySelf (archiveFootage)
Ralph MetznerSelf - psychologist
Nick SandSelf - Millbrook Mansion
Ronald ReaganSelf (archiveFootage)
John LennonSelf (archiveFootage)
Paul McCartneySelf (archiveFootage)
Mick JaggerSelf (archiveFootage)
Grateful DeadThemselves (archiveFootage)
Jimi HendrixSelf (archiveFootage)
Richard NixonSelf (archiveFootage)
Dean CaldwellSelf - cancer patient (archiveFootage)
Roland GriffithsSelf - professor, Johns Hopkins University
Clark MartinSelf - medical research subject