Anya Beale

Hippie fungus film review: In sum, a thought provoking film that detracts from itself by idolizing a main character - very much out of tandem with the community it espouses. I didn’t like paying $5, wondering where my money went. The video itself was well made, with some amazing fugal graphics. Overall, its a movie that very briefly acknowledges thousands of years of native knowledge in natural medicines (noting on this “history” as past as the dinosaurs, taking a few clips to cover). Then, the camera quickly focuses in on the white male protagonists who have brought the ‘new medicine’ through their all-knowing spiritual journeys. A true re-discovery. The structure of our society preferences white folk for drug use (and disproportionately impacts POC) allowing for these sorts of exploration, in part. A bit of the film touches on some rich folk who had nothing else to do but trip in a mansion in the 60s; supposedly they derived some creativity out of all their spare time. Luckily, while he claims “panacea” in every mycelium, its also noted that “this should be tested” while citing ...suggestive studies. Does Japanese ‘lion’s mane’ have potential to aide Alzheimer’s they ask? My issue: without scientific study we can’t know possible allergic reactions, effects on different ages/genders/races, or set a standardized dosage (what amount is effective), are compounds uniform in the fungus? likely not. These claims need serious backing-up to be safe and accessible to all. Fortunately, the main actor’s ‘outsider’ appeal doesn’t yet stray into anti-fact or anti vaxxer lefty zone. But, he seems to woefully forget whatever team works with him on his studies. Two interesting points are made that are new to me: 1) fungi can stimulate nerve growth in the case of changing stress response? 2) the abstract thought that allows for language, invention, planning, is not far from the abstract strange connections one might experience on a “trip”. They believe this might’ve helped form human consciousness, a more complex brain in a short evolutionary timeframe. Seems plausible. While precariously displaying his mother as a lady “cured of stage 4 breast cancer at age 85”, he adds that the turkey tail “helped other anti cancer” meds work. Correlation does not equate causation! The problematic theme intensifies once he disdains the “statistics” against him (numbers don’t lie) and pushes his cure, inevitably, his novel business. Right after, another “professional” deems him almost godly as “the mycelium speak through him” in a classic encapsulation of white saviourism. One Black entrepreneur is featured in the film, among other people on the fungal frontier. (White women appear in the film too and I don’t take issue with their representation.) The last few moments offer a kind wrap up, likening evolution as above ‘survival of the fittest’, to the survival of a community, coevolved for mutual benefit. They present this as a way forward, citing fungal plastics, clean batteries, oil cleanup, & water treatment. Cool.