Julian Palmer'S CONTEMPLATIONS: ON THE PSYCHEDELIC EXPERIENCE is one part personal journey, one part scientific exploration and one part metaphysical record of what people have experienced taking psychedelics. Its a film the puts forth the notion that when used correctly psychedelic drugs can help fix people, as well as open up people's minds.
To be honest, I'm not quite sure what I think of the film. While I admire the depth the film has, running just under two hours its one of the longest on the subject I've seen and its a packed two hours, I'm not certain it always works. Yes, it is informative, but at times there is too much introspection, too much of the talking heads saying what they experienced. Somethings are better left for each one of us to experience. Additionally the film leans a bit too much into the mystic. While I don't discount the possibilities of doors to dimensions have opened, the possibility that it's all just chemistry never seems to be on the table.
This isn't to say the film is bad, more that it wants to see psychedelics as the newest wonder drug. Having studied history I'm skeptics of the that claim since any cure all rarely is. This isn't to say they aren't medically helpful or even recreationally fun, I'm just saying the film wants to ascribe too much to them.
My nitpicks aside, when this film sings, it's an excellent beginning point for exploring what psychedelics can do, so if you are interested give the film a look.
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