Two years ago, we organized a screening of the 1969 documentary “Begrijpt u nu waarom ik huil?” (Now do you get it?) by director Louis van Gasteren which documents the treatment of a traumatized concentration camp survivor using LSD. By popular demand, we are once again thrilled to be organizing a screening of this spectacular and historically important film (runtime: 1 hour, Dutch spoken with English subtitles). After obtaining a high-quality version of the film from the directors’ archives in Amsterdam in 2022, English subtitles were added by our chair Kenan de Leeuw, allowing the film to be shared with English speaking audiences at several international psychedelic science conferences.
The evening will begin with Kenan introducing the film with a brief talk on the historic, medical, and societal aspects of Bastiaans’ work with psychedelics. After the screening, there will be a Q&A opportunity followed by drinks in the Ventilator Bar/Cafe. The evening is sure to be a real treat, and tickets will likely go fast, so don’t miss out!
Dr. Jan Bastiaans’ LSD-therapy
Dr. Jan Bastiaans gained international recognition for his use of LSD in the treatment of traumatized concentration camp survivors during the 1960s and 1970s. Later in his career, he would also use psilocybin, ketamine, and ibogaine to facilitate psychotherapy.
Documentary: Begrijpt u nu waarom ik huil? / Now do you get it? (1969)
“Begrijpt u nu waarom ik huil?” is a 1969 documentary film by Dutch director Louis van Gasteren, documenting Dr. Jan Bastiaans’ treatment of concentration camp survivors through LSD-assisted psychotherapy. In particular, the film documents the treatment undergone by former concentration camp prisoner Joop. After facing the horrors of surviving in several concentration camps between 1941-1945, Joop returned home to his wife a different man. He had nightmares and was incapable of ordinary human contact. With two cameras, Van Gasteren shot over six and a half hours of the first treatment session Joop underwent, which was edited to over one hour of film. The film paints a deeply emotional picture of the depth of human trauma endured during the holocaust, shown through the eyes of one man. At the time of its release, the film made a big impression on Dutch society and even led to questions in parliament.
Tickets
Member ticket price is €4.99, the standard ticket price is €9.99. APRA members will receive a discount code which can be filled out at the “Coupon code” field during checkout. Consider APRA membership to gain a 50% discount to this event and potential future events!