"I did all the protocols I was supposed to do and nothing worked."
Desperate for relief they can’t find at home, two first responders battling PTSD and depression travel to Mexico to undergo psychedelic therapy with traditional healers using medicines
prohibited by U.S. law
"When the Smoke Clears" is the latest film from the @latimesdocs series.
Directed by @_maarya__ and @mkschwarz
Watch the film at the link in the bio.
In the short doc “When the Smoke Clears,” two first responders battling PTSD and depression travel to Mexico for psychedelic therapy using medicines prohibited by U.S. law.
In this Breaking Down a Scene, co-directors Misha Schwarz and Maarya Zafar discuss their approach to filming as the main characters undergo the drug therapies.
Using two cameras — one long lens, the other handheld — they capture the deeply personal moments, uncertain of what would unfold.
Directed by @_maarya__ and @mkschwarz@latimesdocs
Who do first responders turn to in their darkest moments?
Lisa, a retired firefighter and police officer, struggles with isolation and lost purpose. Mike, a former battalion chief, battles sleep deprivation and anger. With traditional treatments for PTSD and depression failing, they seek healing through psychedelic therapy in Mexico.
"When the Smoke Clears," the latest film in the @latimesdocs series, offers an intimate look at their journey, exploring resilience, healing and the power of alternative treatments.
Watch the film at the link in bio.
Directed by @_maarya__ and @mkschwarz
I see you everywhere//when the sun dances through the leaves on my bedroom floor//When butterflies flitter about leaving trails of white//How quickly your presence turned into a memory// Now I wait to see you chase butterflies in my dreams
Goodbye my beautiful boy🖤
