The Substance: Albert Hofmann's LSD

20112011
Not RatedNot Rated
1h 30m

The Substance: Albert Hofmann's LSD (2011)

Trailer for The Substance: Albert Hofmann's LSD

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Documentary Biography History

In 1943, the year in which the first A-bomb was built, Albert Hofmann discovered LSD, a substance that was to become an A-bomb of the mind. Fractions of a milligram are enough to turn our fr... Read allIn 1943, the year in which the first A-bomb was built, Albert Hofmann discovered LSD, a substance that was to become an A-bomb of the mind. 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 ch... Read allIn 1943, the year in which the first A-bomb was built, Albert Hofmann discovered LSD, a substance that was to become an A-bomb of the mind. 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 ... Read all

Director
- Martin Witz
Writer
- Martin Witz
Stars
- Trevor J. Roling(voice)
- Hanspeter Müller(voice)
- Mario Scarabelli(voice)

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 2 nominations

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The Substance: Albert Hofmann's LSD

The Substance: Albert Hofmann's LSD

Photos6

The Substance: Albert Hofmann's LSD (2011)

The Substance: Albert Hofmann's LSD (2011)

The Substance: Albert Hofmann's LSD (2011)

The Substance: Albert Hofmann's LSD (2011)

The Substance: Albert Hofmann's LSD (2011)

Trevor J. Roling

Hanspeter Müller

Mario Scarabelli

Selfas Self
(archive footage)

Self - psychiatristas Self - psychiatrist

Self - authoras Self - author

James S. Ketchum

Self - U.S. Army Colonel (Retired), Medical Corpsas Self - U.S. Army Colonel (Retired), Medical Corps

Franz X. Vollenweider

Self - neuroscientist, University of Zürichas Self - neuroscientist, University of Zürich

Selfas Self
(archive footage)

Self - Merry Prankstersas Self - Merry Pranksters

Selfas Self
(archive footage)

Self - psychologistas Self - psychologist

Self - Millbrook Mansionas Self - Millbrook Mansion

Selfas Self
(archive footage)

Selfas Self
(archive footage)

Selfas Self
(archive footage)

Selfas Self
(archive footage)

Themselvesas Themselves
(archive footage)
(as The Grateful Dead)

In 1943, the year in which the first A-bomb was built, Albert Hofmann discovered LSD, a substance that was to become an A-bomb of the mind. 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? —Martin Witz

timeframe 1960s drug lsd chemical consciousness 16 more

Connections
Featured in Docventures: Psyyke (2013)

Top review

7/10

It's All About The Discovery Of LSD In 1943

I have to say that I was quite impressed with this documentary about the accidental discovery of LSD (aka. Acid) by Swiss chemist, Albert Hofmann in 1943.

"The Substance" was certainly a documentary whose producers went well out of their way to create something of a surreal and psychedelic experience for the viewer by using hypnotic imagery and spacey music to entertain while the whole story unfolded.

At the time of his discovery of LSD, Hofmann was trying to understand how consciousness was created and, in doing so, his breakthrough in science opened up a literal "Pandora's Box" when it came to the realm of a virtual mind-altering experience.

Also featured in this documentary was an interview with Albert Hofmann at the age of 100. Still a very lucid thinker, Hofmann clearly described his own experiences taking LSD, which he believed, as a psychiatric tool, offered great benefits to the patient.

*Note* - In 2008, Albert Hofmann died at the ripe old age of 102.

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StrictlyConfidential
Jul 5, 2020

Release date
- May 17, 2012 (Germany)
Countries of origin
- Switzerland
- Germany
Official site
- Official site
Languages
Also known as
- Вещество
Production companies
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Runtime
1 hour 30 minutes
Color
- Black and White
- Color
Sound mix
- Dolby Digital

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The Substance: Albert Hofmann's LSD (2011)

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