HOT DOCS 26 REVIEW: SEARCHING FOR DRUG PEACE

 

 

Equal parts informative and inherently involving, Searching For Drug Peace primarily captures the contemporary life of Dana Larsen (as well as surrounding members of their Vancouver community), as he operates a highly controversial harm reduction centre that specializes in ensuring his community can receive clean drugs. On top of this, we quickly learn that the money is going towards supporting the Get Your Drugs Tested centre. From the very first frame, Balfanbayev and Larsen immediately set the tone of the film; the stakes are high, and the portrait feels like an incredible necessity.

Immediately, a couple of documentaries from the past decade come to mind– so-called psychedelic documentaries that mainly feature celebrities telling anecdotal and stimulating stories; these are not the stories that should be taking centre stage. If you’ve been keeping up with Canada-wide news within the past few years, you’ve more than likely seen/heard Larsen’s name in articles discussing contemporary drug law; it’s refreshing to see a timely peace that operates in a selfless manner. It paints an intricate portrait of Larsen’s mantras, philosophies, and core beliefs. However, it’s important to recognize that this isn’t a cotton candy outing, and this piece is heavily dedicated to tackling the objective of the film’s title.

Through poignant words on behalf of Jerry Martin and Larsen himself, Balfanbayev utilizes the documentary format to tell a fast-paced story that has years' worth of backing context. From a narrative perspective, it navigates between opposing viewpoints from activists and counsellors, as well as medical professionals, and it quickly becomes clear that the staff and supporters of these movements are motivated by saving lives and allowing their community to thrive. The ongoing Fentanyl epidemic around North America refuses to slow down, and Balfanbayev makes it clear that the people have had more than enough. Over one year of intense footage and moving perspectives upon contemporaneously available harm-reduction strategies, it’s almost impossible to not get lost within true stories of people trying to help people, one day and demonstration at a time.