In weeks, months, and probably years to come, plenty of discussion is sure to revolve around the recently released Dante: 500 Miles on Psychedelics documentary. The film tells the tale of Dante Liberato and his 500-mile run from Colorado Springs to Moab while using… you guessed it… various psychedelics. The subject matter makes for a good headline, sure, but the reason this film will be sticking around in conversations stretches far beyond what one might assume based on the headline, alone.

For starters, the film is somehow the first from Director Fernando Gonzalez, which is shocking considering how polished it is. It’s on par with what might be expected from a seasoned filmmaker, from how the story flows and demands engagement throughout, to how each careful cut makes sense, to how it’s impossible to ignore how the videography alone puts the movie a notch above most sports docs. After watching the film at its premiere in Colorado Springs, I walked away feeling as if I had viewed an instant classic in the documentary scene.

When it comes to the storytelling, Dante reaches beyond expectations in a way that’s relatable to not only those interested in psychedelics or running, but to anyone who has been blindsided by life and sought a way to overcome a struggle. While Liberato’s run from Colorado to Utah is the movie’s centerpiece, the story is intertwined with moments of his life that led him to attempt something that even seasoned ultrarunners would consider to be just short of impossible. It’s raw, authentic, and revealing in a way that makes it easy to connect with Liberato as he faces off with the challenges of life.

Then there’s how the film is cut and edited – the production value feels like something out of Hollywood, not a first attempt at moviemaking by SFFR Films. What’s perhaps most impressive in this regard is how the storyline moves so seamlessly between clips of Liberato’s run to his training (which includes a run with donkeys) to his past as an MMA fighter in such a cohesive manner, all while blending themes of victory, letdown, strength, and weakness in a way that doesn’t feel forced. Expect plenty of humor, too – it’s hard to do humor well, yet SFFR Films does it right.

When it comes to the videography of Dante, expect dramatic landscape scenes and interviews – per norm for a documentary – but don’t doubt this film’s ability to capture organic moments, as well. Numerous scenes make it feel as if the camera was always there yet also not there at all, catering to telling the story in an immersive and honest way. All cuts feel intentional and nothing feels out of place.

At its heart, Dante: 500 Miles on Psychedelics feels more like a movie about a group of friends pushing each other to be better people than it does a story about a single person’s athletic feat. It captures the importance of the people one is surrounded by in an inspiring way that’s sure to have any viewer thinking about hard moments they’ve faced, who they relied on to overcome those though times, and what work still needs to be done.

Do psychedelics play a key role in the film? Of course. But regardless of how one feels about whether or not psychedelics should be consumed, it would be hard for a viewer to walk away from Dante without gleaning something positive and uplifting to bring back to daily life.

The takeaway lesson from the film seems to be that life throws curveballs, and that life doesn’t always go as planned, but that instead of getting stuck in a rut, it’s important to adjust your trajectory when that curveball hits to push onward in search of bigger and better dreams. And that no one has to be defined by a single moment or a single goal as humans are able to constantly grow and evolve with each situation they face. And of course, that it’s important to let those who love you push you along, as well.

Dante: 500 Miles on Psychedelics is billed as ‘barely a running documentary,’ and that line holds true. It’s about a run, but it’s about so much more than running. Stream it here or find a trailer here.

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