Watch My Psychedelic Love Story

My Psychedelic Love Story is a 2020 documentary film directed by Errol Morris. The film revolves around the relationship between Timothy Leary, the Harvard psychologist who urged America to "turn on, tune in, drop out," and Joanna Harcourt-Smith, a troubled young woman from Switzerland, whom Leary fell in love with during a trip to Europe in the early 1970s.

The movie explores the depths of their relationship, which was fueled by LSD and other psychedelic drugs, and ultimately destroyed by the harsh realities of Leary's criminal charges and incarceration. Morris interviews Harcourt-Smith extensively, along with a number of other figures from the era, to piece together the story of what happened between them.

The film is framed around the idea that Harcourt-Smith was actually an agent of the CIA, sent to infiltrate Leary's inner circle and gather intelligence on his drug experiences and political beliefs. Whether or not this is true is never fully resolved, but it is a compelling narrative device that adds a layer of intrigue to the story.

The central relationship is presented through a mix of archival footage, reenactments, and present-day interviews. Watching the old footage of Leary and Harcourt-Smith tripping on acid and professing their love for each other is both bizarre and captivating. The actors who play them in the reenactments do a good job of capturing their mannerisms and personalities, which makes the film feel like an intimate portrait of these two people.

One of the most interesting aspects of the film is its examination of the ways in which Harcourt-Smith's gender and mental health status impacted her relationship with Leary. She was a young woman who had struggled with drug addiction and mental illness, and Leary was an older, charismatic man who wielded immense influence over her. Morris doesn't shy away from discussing the power dynamics at play in their relationship, and the ways in which they both took advantage of each other.

Another compelling aspect of the film is its exploration of the cultural and political context of the era. Leary was a counterculture icon, and his advocacy for psychedelic drugs was seen as a revolutionary act by many young people who were disillusioned with mainstream society. However, this also made him a target of the government, who saw his ideas as a threat to the established order. The film does a good job of contextualizing Leary's beliefs and actions within this broader historical moment.

Overall, My Psychedelic Love Story is an engaging and thought-provoking documentary that delves into the complexities of one of the most fascinating relationships of the 20th century. It is a testament to Morris's skill as a filmmaker that he is able to present such a nuanced and multi-layered story in a way that feels both informative and emotionally resonant. Whether or not you're a fan of Timothy Leary or the psychedelic movement, this film is well worth watching.

My Psychedelic Love Story is a 2020 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 41 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2 and a MetaScore of 69.