-Written by Kyle Bain.
The conversation on mental health has blown up in the past decade, causing individuals around the world to find new ways to remedy this ongoing issue. East Forest has now explored far different ways to combat mental health struggles, including the use of psychedelics and music. Music for Mushrooms is an in-depth look at this world, a place in which steps are being taken to help those in need, and Forest takes us on that journey.
First of all: what the hell is this film? Mushrooms. Music. Mental Health…the three obvious M’s. Never did I think I would be talking about these things in the same conversation (and never did I think I would be talking about mushrooms and psychedelics at all really). In 2020 a documentary came out called Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics that outlined the good and the bad experiences that celebrities had with, well…psychedelics. Individuals like Anthony Bordain and Rosie Perez came forward to discuss those experiences, and I was shocked by how much I loved that film. Well structured, well executed, and incredibly interesting, I suppose that Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics set the standard for films of this nature, particularly documentaries. Music for Mushrooms exists in the same vein as that aforementioned documentary, though, attempting to express more of the good than the bad of using psychedelics. Forest had his hands full as he attempted to shift the world’s views on such a polarizing topic.
As someone who has never even glossed over the possibility of taking psychedelics, for a split second while watching Music for Mushrooms I went “holy shit, maybe this is a good idea for me.” Even a second of this screams success for the documentary. I suppose I’m not entirely against the idea of others using mushrooms and the like to deal with their issues, or even for recreation really–but it’s not something that I considered would ever be a part of my life. Again, the fact that Forest and his cohort were able to sway me for a miniscule second means that they did their job while making Music for Mushrooms. By the end of the film my opinion on the drugs reverted back to what they were when I started the film, but I would consider this film a success, groundbreaking in a way.
Just to clarify for anyone reading (particularly my employer), I don’t intend on ever taking psychedelics to deal with my mental health, or at all–but it’s still an interesting concept.
The opening scene of Music for Mushrooms is highly cinematic. A young woman sits down, puts on a pair of headphones, and begins to cry while listening to music. It’s clear that she’s been moved by the sounds reverberating throughout her head, that she has been emotionally affected by what she’s just been handed. I don’t know much of her story beyond that, and that’s more than alright with me. Seeing this caused a visceral reaction, something so genuine, that, honestly, the film could have ended there and I would have walked away with something wonderful. For a while, though, that music continued to play a role in the film–and it continued to have a similar effect on me in the early going of Music for Mushrooms.
Now, what doesn’t work for Music for Mushrooms? Honestly, it just goes on for far too long. At nearly an hour and a half I feel like the same ideas and sentiments are covered over and over again, like an endless cycle. The connection that I felt to the film happened nearly instantly, within the first twenty minutes or so of the film. However, by the hour mark I had lost that connection. Had Music for Mushrooms been shortened by a significant amount, I think that the content would have made more of an impact. Rather than beating a dead horse, I think Director Krishna-Trevor Oswalt would have benefitted from leaving her audience with less information, allowing them to mull it over some more once the film had concluded.
I did take something away from Music for Mushrooms. As I write this I’m reminded that I have an appointment with my therapist tonight, that the conversation that she and I will have tonight will most certainly include Music for Mushrooms and the bit of self discovery that happened while watching the film. There’s something here that allows you to let go for just a bit, to analyze the other possibilities, the ones beyond standard therapy (though I love going to therapy)–and what Oswalt and Forest create is something spectacular and meaningful. While writing this my appreciation for the film has grown–and had Music for Mushrooms been reduced to a much shorter version of itself, it’s likely that it landed somewhere near perfect.
Directed by Krishna-Trevor Oswalt.
Starring East Forest, Colette, Spring Washam, Dr. Leor Roseman, Dr. Robin Charhart-Harris, etc.
8/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING
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