"The Substance: Albert Hofmann's LSD" is an award-winning 90-minute documentary from 2011, so this one had its 11th anniversary last year. The writer and director is Martin Witz and it is certainly his most known work. This documentary is partially English, partially German, so make sure you got a good set of subtitles perhaps. The German parts are mostly interview with the guy in the title, who is the one that discovered LSD and who also lived over the age of 100. This means this documentary gives information first hand really because there is probably no bigger expert on the subject than Hofmann, even if his discovery may have been a bit on the lucky side. Other references are about the use of LSD as an illegal drug, even if that part is really not in the center of it all, about LSD as a pharmaceutic drug and also about LSD in terms of war/military. The second aspect is probably the central component of the film as there are long sequences about people who took it and who as a consequence participated in medical tests. I would say that the film perhaps became a bit weaker towards the end, but thanks to the first half / first 60 minutes the informative aspect here is really good enough overall to let me say that this film was a success. I am also a bit on the generous side with it here because it is about a subject that does not really interest me at all as I had no prior knowledge, have never taken LSD or plan to. And still it was interesting to watch for the most part. Those with more affection for the topic will probably enjoy the watch a lot. And these are of course also the ones I recommend seeing it to. Everybody else can check it out too, but should keep their expectations not too high.

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.

By chance I came across this movie on TV today and must say that it truly is an eye opening experience.

Not only does the substance increases your awareness as such but this movie makes you aware how absurd in retrospect step by step a whole generation was impacted by a coincidence.

The movie is extremely well crafted. A first rate documentary which is as mentioned eye opening.

Fantastic editing, music and speed.... A historical movie about a special time...

It accurately describes how from the lab it arrived at the streets in quantities which today seem hard to believe. For someone who is now about 40 and was too young to have lived the 50ies and 60ies it enables to understand the psychedelic and Hippie movement. By the editing and the intense interviews you do have a feeling of actually reliving the times. The Director has truly shown sensitivity and also a certain pragmatism which makes this movie very pleasurable and entertaining.