The Holy Mountain

[JerryvonKramer]

The Holy Mountain (Alejandro Jodorowsky, 1973)

My wife's thoughts:

The 40 minutes or so that I watched of that film was atrocious. Why? Because it tried it's hardest to be a "feast" of visual imagery and artistry. Instead, it was random chaos. What's the point in showing hundreds of frogs all dressed the same and then bathing them in blood? Or the man going nuts on hundreds of replicated Christ figures? Or suddenly cutting to a scene where you can have any face you want? Let's see, what analysis could we give that...a hallucinogenic study of mass consumerism and facile popular culture? Spirtialism vs Consumerism, is it? No. The film can piss off and die. It's a mess and nothing coheres. And that's why I refused to watch it.

And please note the sarcasm in my analysis. That film is pretentious and up it's own arse.

My own:

I thought it was a total mess. More absurdist than surreal, and more like early Woody Allen or Monty Python than David Lynch ... only not very funny, not very insightful and so random as to end up meaning nothing.

The biggest thing I thought about it is that it seems to be very dated. Seems like Jodorowsky just had free reign to do what he liked and just filmed any and every idea he had with no quality control and got away with it in 1973 under the guise of being 'revolutionary'.

It does nothing to justify its lofty reputation among cult film enthusiasts and I was disappointed by it.

[tobiaswragg]

Someone gave me a tape of it. I gave up on it half an hour in. I've never went back to it.

[gag]

Strange should mention this film i just downloaded it (yes i know naughty of me ) and got it on my laptop......was going to watch it soon but with my wedding this weekend think it be later than sooner

[Gigantor]

I have a DVD of this in my to watch pile.Doesn't sound like it will be getting any closer to being viewed now

[Make Them Die Slowly]

Originally Posted by JerryvonKramer

I thought it was a total mess. More absurdist than surreal, and more like early Woody Allen or Monty Python than David Lynch ... only not very funny, not very insightful and so random as to end up meaning nothing.

The biggest thing I thought about it is that it seems to be very dated. Seems like Jodorowsky just had free reign to do what he liked and just filmed any and every idea he had with no quality control and got away with it in 1973 under the guise of being 'revolutionary'.

It does nothing to justify its lofty reputation among cult film enthusiasts and I was disappointed by it.

The biggest problem I have with Jodorowsky's work is not the chaos that is on screen but how he cheats the viewer of any meaning. I've studied various esoteric paths over the years and Jodorowsky's scatter gun approach to different schools of thought, filtered through his own perception robs the viewer of ever making an attempt at understanding what the hell he's talking about.

I find his films work best when viewed without the attempt to look for meaning in them. To use any of the standard film studies theories is a mistake, as he's purely in his own little metaphysical world and can only be understood in this context. However as this is a world closed to the viewer...

Still, I'd highly recommend his work, it's fun in an anything goes way.

[mr 420]

I too have watched and enjoyed The Holy Mountain many times. Fair enough, its not exactly main-stream enterainment, but it does offer some beautiful imagary and lots of food for thought. I do think that peyote has a lot to answer for in this movie though!

[Demdike]

Who has the UK rights to Jodorowsky's work?

How come there are no UK releases?

[Mbarr]

Originally Posted by Demdike

Who has the UK rights to Jodorowsky's work?

How come there are no UK releases?

Anchor Bay released Santa Sangre a few years back (now OOP) & Tartan had the Jodorowsky collection (with El Topo, Fando & Lis & The Holy Mountain) which is also OOP (I'd assume Palisades have the rights as per the others in Tartan's catalogue)

[mr 420]

I have the Tartan OOP releases of THM and El Topo and all I can say is that they are absolutely fantastic. Amazing transfers of the films along with a nice wee collection of extras and an informative booklet. It's no wonder they fetch such high prices at the moment.

[Make Them Die Slowly]

Originally Posted by mr 420

I have the Tartan OOP releases of THM and El Topo and all I can say is that they are absolutely fantastic. Amazing transfers of the films along with a nice wee collection of extras and an informative booklet. It's no wonder they fetch such high prices at the moment.

"El Topo" is going for £20 in Fopp Manchester at the moment.