Dirty Pictures.

French Director Étienne Sauret, known from producing the absorbing critique of American militarism documentary Why We Fight (2005) and the even more powerful and heartbreaking Collateral Damages (2003) returns with a fairly slow but still very interesting 2010 SXSW documentary Dirty pictures (2010). Dirty Pictures examines Dr. Alexander Shulgin, the rogue chemist who left the mainstream to develop MDMA/Ecstasy, & 100’s of other mind-altering substances. Shulgins alchemy has earned him the title The Godfather of Psychedelics, and a reputation as one of the great chemists of the 20th century. The Film also focuses on the life of Shulgin’s wife. And their lifestyle as veritable mad scientists. They both became cult heroes for their wild commitment to and intelligent discourse on the nature and use of psychedelic substances. The look of the film varies, given some disparate sources, but the original camera-work here is often beautiful.  A-one-to-watch!