I felt moved to tears as the credits rolled, it's a very sensitive, balanced and inspirational piece of heartfelt gonzo film making.
I seem to recall that Kieślowski's A Short Film about Killing had the effect of having the death penalty abolished in Poland. Truly great film really can be so much more than entertainment, it can bring about humanitarian change and in that sense Iboga Nights is a really important work.
David Graham Scott's approach is unusually non invasive and sensitive, but this is clearly because he is part of the story rather than a voyeur. This film has no agenda, it's not damning drug use nor is it ramming a new magic bullet down our throats. It's simply asking the question, does Iboga help people? It could so easily have gone for the grime and filth of a junkie's existence but instead it shows dignity within the desperation, the people beyond the habit. I watch a lot of documentary film but it's rare that I discover work of such unmanipulative caliber, I really hope this film gets the attention it so richly deserves, it's clearly a labor of love
I seem to recall that Kieślowski's A Short Film about Killing had the effect of having the death penalty abolished in Poland. Truly great film really can be so much more than entertainment, it can bring about humanitarian change and in that sense Iboga Nights is a really important work.
David Graham Scott's approach is unusually non invasive and sensitive, but this is clearly because he is part of the story rather than a voyeur. This film has no agenda, it's not damning drug use nor is it ramming a new magic bullet down our throats. It's simply asking the question, does Iboga help people? It could so easily have gone for the grime and filth of a junkie's existence but instead it shows dignity within the desperation, the people beyond the habit. I watch a lot of documentary film but it's rare that I discover work of such unmanipulative caliber, I really hope this film gets the attention it so richly deserves, it's clearly a labor of love