The fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) is one of Europe's best-known natural motifs - colorful, iconic and culturally deeply rooted. It has left its mark in fairy tales, the Christmas cult and folk medicine as well as in modern pop culture. But what is really behind the image of the “poisonous lucky mushroom”?

The documentary embarks on a multifaceted journey of discovery. It tells the story of the fly agaric as a European natural and cultural phenomenon that is as much at home in myths and symbolism as it is in modern science. Based on historical traditions and current research, the film explores how knowledge about the mushroom has changed - from shamanic rituals to pharmaceutical experiments and new therapeutic approaches.

The scientific re-evaluation of the mushroom is key: active ingredients such as muscimol and ibotenic acid are moving into the focus of pharmacology and neuroscience. They act on the central nervous system and open up new perspectives in areas such as anxiety therapy and sleep medicine. At the same time, it is becoming clear that many of these scientific developments can be traced back to cultural experiences and traditional knowledge, for example from the use of fly agarics in Siberia, Lapland or in European folk medicine.

The film combines scientific analysis with an emotional and visually powerful narrative. In the process, it becomes clear how much the secrets of nature can show us how deeply rooted we are in it.

In Production:

A film by Thomas Grube.
A Boomtown Media production in cooperation with ZDF/Arte.