While in Shanghai, Ivens and his wife and co-director Marceline Loridan became interested in the workings of a neighborhood pharmacy after the pharmacy staff took a special interest in Ivens' recovery from an illness. The Drugstore documents a community outreach pharmacy, one which goes beyond the notion of merchandising to that of healing-clinical consultations, on-the-spot accupuncture, as well as drug dispensing are all part of the daily routine for a conscientious, caring, self-motivated (and self-critical) staff. As always, filmmakers Ivens and Loridan display their talent for putting us not just at the scene, but in it.