DIRECTOR
David Čálek
DIRECTOR
David Čálek
SCREENPLAY
David Čálek
CINEMATOGRAPHY
David Čálek
EDITING
Ema Adamove
Jakub Voves
SOUND
Ludvík Bohadlo
PRODUCER
Jan Macola
PRODUCTION
Mimesis Film
In a world where millions of people suffer from mental illness, an international team of scientists is looking for new pathways to recovery.
One in four people will experience some form of mental illness in their lifetime. Depression, anxiety and other mental health problems are not just individual issues – they are a reflection of the stressful and fast-paced nature of modern society.
Tibor, Richard and Lucie have struggled with depression for many years. Their journey has been one of frustration and despair. Like thousands of other patients, traditional antidepressants have brought them no relief. Just when it seemed that change was no longer an option, new hope emerged: groundbreaking research led by Tomáš Páleníček, MD, and an international team of scientists.
Their goal is ambitious: to see if psychedelics can make a real difference in the lives of people with depression and open the door to new alternative treatments. To test the results of their research they are traveling to the heart of the Amazon rainforest. The experiences of the indigenous people there could represent a major breakthrough in their research.
Czech director and cinematographer David Čálek (1971, Prague) graduated from Prague’s FAMU film school in 1998 and has shot and/or directed over 30 documentaries around the world for independent producers and TV broadcasters (Czech TV, HBO CZ). His doc HEAVEN AND HELL was released theatrically in the Czech Republic and had its international festival premiere at SXSW 2011, Austin, Texas, USA. The film was awarded as the BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM at the IFF Finale – Plzen 2011, Czech Republic. As DP, he shot 8 narrative feature films, including MAMAS & PAPAS – the winner of the Best Film Price at the Hamptons IFF 2010 NY, USA. David is shooting in extreme conditions (documentary films-Afghanistan, Chechnya, Kenya, Somalia, underwater shooting or shooting on K2) as well as social and drama feature films in Europe or US.
The project is implemented with financial support from the European Union.
Project Title: Doctor on a trip
Objective: Support for professions and activities related to the professional development and production of fiction, documentary and animated audiovisual works intended for cinema, television, VOD, film or festival distribution.