Dirty Pictures is a documentary about Dr. Alexander "Sasha" Shulgin, the rogue chemist who discovered the effects of MDMA and over 200 other psychotropic drugs. Shulgin's alchemy has earned him the title "The Godfather of Psychedelics" and a reputation as one of the great chemists of the 20th century.

Working from a lab in his home, and using himself and his wife Ann as test subjects, Shulgin's discoveries have brought him into conflict with the law but made him a worldwide underground hero. The two books they co-authored, "Pihkal" and "Tihkal", have built a foundation for cutting-edge neuroscience and medical research.

Dirty Pictures uncovers the life's work of Dr. Shulgin and takes viewers inside his Northern California home where he lives with his wife of 33 years and continues to carry out experiments in a makeshift laboratory. It follows him as he travels to festivals and conferences, and into the depths of his history, personal experience and family life to paint a rich and nuanced portrait of a human being responsible for incredible social change.