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Descending the Mountain

Descending the Mountain

NOV 11, 2021 · 78 MIN · DIR. MAARTJE NEVEJAN

Documentary

What happens if you give magic mushrooms (psilocibine) to experienced Zen practitioners who have never used drugs? What does that teach us about the mystical experience of oneness with nature? Based on these questions, psychiatrist Franz Vollenweider and Zen master Vanja Palmers set up a legal science experiment in a monastery at the top of Mount Rigi in Switzerland. Exactly 50 years after the magic mushrooms were officially banned, a new story begins in what is now called the “psychedelic renaissance”. While in 2021 most studies with psychedelics mainly focus on their promising medical applications, Frans and Vanja are already going a step further. Can the combination of meditation and psilocibin help humanity get out of the mess we have created on ourselves and the planet with our neo-liberal society?

Cast

  • Vanja Palmers

    Himself

  • Franz Vollenweider

    Himself

  • Sister Theresia Raberger

    Herself

  • Dr. Peter Gasser

    Himself

Crew

Director of Photography

Jean Counet

Editor

Gys Zevenbergen

Producer

Bohdana Tamas

Producer

Annette Badenhorst

Producer

Monette de Botton

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