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The Holy Mountain is being screened at the Castro!!!!
A Christlike figure wanders through bizarre, grotesque scenarios filled with religious and sacrilegious imagery. He meets a mystical guide who introduces him to six wealthy and powerful individuals, each representing a planet in the solar system. These six, along with the protagonist, the guide and the guide's assistant, divest themselves of their worldly goods and form a group of nine who will seek out the Holy Mountain, in order to displace the gods who live there and become immortal.
viewer's comments:
- Fascinating, boring, beautiful, ugly, irritating, pretentious, witty and profoundly original. 'The Holy Mountain' will blow your mind!
'El Topo' is still one of the strangest movies ever made but Alejandro Jodorowsky amazingly managed to top himself with 'The Holy Mountain'. This movie contains some of the most weird and wonderful scenes in the history of movies. It is filled with bizarre images which draw upon many religions and occult philosophies, and seems to be inspired equally by Bunuel and the comic book sci-fi surrealism of William Burroughs. It's a cliche but when I say you have to see it to believe it I'm not lying! The movie is roughly in three sections. The first documents the trials and tribulations of The Thief, a Christ figure. The second introduces The Alchemist (played by Jodorowsky himself) and his seven disciples who are each represented by a planet. The third sees all these odd people (and a chimpanzee) go on a pilgrimage to "The Holy Mountain". I found the third section to be much less interesting than the other two, and that, combined with the sensory overload of the earlier parts of the film, makes it not as successful as 'El Topo' for me. But there's no denying that this is an extraordinary movie and anyone who appreciates strange and challenging films will find this to be the strangest and most challenging of all. Jodorowsky makes David Lynch look like Michael Bay! I can't truthfully say I get 90% of what he's getting at but boy, is it a trip trying to figure it out!
- A stream of consciousness movie
The Holy Mountain is best described as a stream of consciousness--like a really weird dream. It's the kind of movie that keeps you watching just to see what happens. You never know where it's going next. Some parts are certainly better than others, but every scene has something memorable about it.
Jodorowsky is part Luis Bunuel (An Andolousian Dog, Viridiana), part Fellini (La Dolce Vita, 8 1/2, Amarcord), and part David Lynch (Eraserhead, Blue Velvet). If you enjoy those three directors, you'll probably find this one worth your while. But if strange, off-beat art films leave you cold, don't bother with it.
- This film is by the guy who said 'I am to film what LSD is to the mind'. That is exactly right in this movie. It makes sense on a higher level of consciousness which most won't catch by seeing the barrage of symbolic images and scenes linked together..however it is a masterpiece of weird cinema. If you're not into pretentious surreal art like Salvador Dali then this isn't for you. He later did Santa Sangre which is an amazing film with a more coherent story.
- First, take a deep breath. Now after a momentary pause take another deep breath. Do these (deep breaths) for a few minutes then open YOUR eyes. That's right, now open your eyes and watch Jodorowski's THE HOLY MOUNTAIN. After viewing this magnum opus of a film, really open YOUR eyes and really take a deep breath for it will do a body good. Enjoy!!!
- Mind-blowing.
I first saw this movie at a friend's house, who essentially sat me down in front of the TV, put this movie on, and made me sit and watch. At first I was a little skeptical; I tend to be somewhat picky when it comes to the movies I watch, and the vague description of it he'd given me hadn't exactly piqued my interest. Right from the first frame though, I was drawn in by the sheer visual artistry and deep symbolism, almost hypnotized by the magic on the screen before me.
True, many people won't understand much of it the first time or two they watch; in fact few will perceive any of the underlying symbolism until several viewings later. But with each subsequent viewing more and more becomes evident, even obvious where it had been obscure before, and the viewer will find themselves even more mesmerized and in love with the sheer beauty than previously.
Truly a mind-blowing movie, that had an ~enormous~ impact on me, my life, and my mind.
- An absolutely brilliant film both in concept and execution.
The Holy Mountain is an epic exploration of religious experience and global socio-political trends. A scathing indictment of the abuse of power by both first and third-world nations, while simultaneously a wonderfully clever fantasy that exposes art and religion as hilarious tools of mass-mind-control. It is a truly sweeping masterpiece full of amazing imagery and even more impressive thought. And it also has one of the best endings you are likely to see -ever. Too bad it is almost impossible to find.
- This is not only, in my opinion, the best movie by maestro Alexandro Jodorowsky, not only the best movie ever made in Mexico or Latin America, or not only the best movie ever...I would say that this sort of work ranks along with the bible or the alcoran of the muslims. It is a proposal with not only an incalculable artistic achievement, but a movie that goes beyond that...A proposal about the human condition, and how to achieve perfection and reach holiness, just like the bible seems to do. As far as a movie, it synthesizes his Panic proposal of the artwork and the world like no other of this work, and can be interpreted in many ways. It's meaningful for everyone who sees it, and cannot be ignored, causing a deep conmotion in every spectator, and him/her to actively participate in the search. In a few words, it is a revelation. A revelation that some people doesn't want you to experience. I dont know how many of you know that the original copies of this movie and El Topo were destroyed by Allen Klein (at least that's how Jodorowsky put it). So, I guess that we the few people who have seen it are very lucky and must really asume that we are. I would synthesize the argument this way (this is what I roughly understood): All the icons that man has created reunite in his mortal form to achieve inmortality, and ultimately holiness. For that, they must become a group, and fuse with a "great self", loosing the concept that each one has of his own. The thief represents christianity, and the rest of the searchers represents a good of the greek pantheon each (Jodorowsky representing the sun, and Ramona Saunders the moon). All of them are thieves, 6 of them represent the most powerful people on the earth, and all of them know that they are mortal. This movie does not criticize any religion, and is not surrealistic either, nor an excersise in sadomasochism (we may be able to say that about "Fando & Lis", his first movie, because that one is an allegory of the couple relationship). Each symbol relates perfectly into a structure that leads you to the end, in which you must participate and assume your own humanity, forgetting about what you understand as "identity". Nevertheless, to come to this conclusion you have to had come across some reading before, and know Jodorowsky's work somehow. Its good that this movie is rated as that because it shows that it caused a reaction, which I believe was the main point, but misunderstood anyway, which has doomed its fate. I am sorry it has been discontinued, mainly because it was misunderstood. I started to become afraid that it would disappear from the face of the earth, but this is the kind of movie that does not become old with time. Its like wine, the more time it spends away, the better it will taste, hopefully. Younger generations seem to like it more than that when it was made. A true view ahead of its time, and perhaps our, because if not, we would be able to buy it at Wal Mart enjoy it without fearing that lawyers would come and get us. Perhaps it just wasnt meant for that.
- what?
what, what what what what? Jesus? Lambs on sticks?
Beautiful. Watch it This film is amazing
Cast: Alejandro Jodorowsky .... The Alchemist
Horácio Salinas .... The Thief
Zamira Saunders .... The Written Woman
Juan Ferrara .... Fon.
Also Known As:
Montaña sagrada, La (1975) (Mexico)
Sacred Mountain, The (1990) (reissue title)
Runtime: Mexico:114 min
Country: USA / Mexico
Language: English
Color: Color (Technicolor)
Jodorowsky's follow up to El Topo
The Holy Mountain is being screened at the Castro!!!!
A Christlike figure wanders through bizarre, grotesque scenarios filled with religious and sacrilegious imagery. He meets a mystical guide who introduces him to six wealthy and powerful individuals, each representing a planet in the solar system. These six, along with the protagonist, the guide and the guide's assistant, divest themselves of their worldly goods and form a group of nine who will seek out the Holy Mountain, in order to displace the gods who live there and become immortal.
viewer's comments:
- Fascinating, boring, beautiful, ugly, irritating, pretentious, witty and profoundly original. 'The Holy Mountain' will blow your mind!
'El Topo' is still one of the strangest movies ever made but Alejandro Jodorowsky amazingly managed to top himself with 'The Holy Mountain'. This movie contains some of the most weird and wonderful scenes in the history of movies. It is filled with bizarre images which draw upon many religions and occult philosophies, and seems to be inspired equally by Bunuel and the comic book sci-fi surrealism of William Burroughs. It's a cliche but when I say you have to see it to believe it I'm not lying! The movie is roughly in three sections. The first documents the trials and tribulations of The Thief, a Christ figure. The second introduces The Alchemist (played by Jodorowsky himself) and his seven disciples who are each represented by a planet. The third sees all these odd people (and a chimpanzee) go on a pilgrimage to "The Holy Mountain". I found the third section to be much less interesting than the other two, and that, combined with the sensory overload of the earlier parts of the film, makes it not as successful as 'El Topo' for me. But there's no denying that this is an extraordinary movie and anyone who appreciates strange and challenging films will find this to be the strangest and most challenging of all. Jodorowsky makes David Lynch look like Michael Bay! I can't truthfully say I get 90% of what he's getting at but boy, is it a trip trying to figure it out!
- A stream of consciousness movie
The Holy Mountain is best described as a stream of consciousness--like a really weird dream. It's the kind of movie that keeps you watching just to see what happens. You never know where it's going next. Some parts are certainly better than others, but every scene has something memorable about it.
Jodorowsky is part Luis Bunuel (An Andolousian Dog, Viridiana), part Fellini (La Dolce Vita, 8 1/2, Amarcord), and part David Lynch (Eraserhead, Blue Velvet). If you enjoy those three directors, you'll probably find this one worth your while. But if strange, off-beat art films leave you cold, don't bother with it.
- This film is by the guy who said 'I am to film what LSD is to the mind'. That is exactly right in this movie. It makes sense on a higher level of consciousness which most won't catch by seeing the barrage of symbolic images and scenes linked together..however it is a masterpiece of weird cinema. If you're not into pretentious surreal art like Salvador Dali then this isn't for you. He later did Santa Sangre which is an amazing film with a more coherent story.
- First, take a deep breath. Now after a momentary pause take another deep breath. Do these (deep breaths) for a few minutes then open YOUR eyes. That's right, now open your eyes and watch Jodorowski's THE HOLY MOUNTAIN. After viewing this magnum opus of a film, really open YOUR eyes and really take a deep breath for it will do a body good. Enjoy!!!
- Mind-blowing.
I first saw this movie at a friend's house, who essentially sat me down in front of the TV, put this movie on, and made me sit and watch. At first I was a little skeptical; I tend to be somewhat picky when it comes to the movies I watch, and the vague description of it he'd given me hadn't exactly piqued my interest. Right from the first frame though, I was drawn in by the sheer visual artistry and deep symbolism, almost hypnotized by the magic on the screen before me.
True, many people won't understand much of it the first time or two they watch; in fact few will perceive any of the underlying symbolism until several viewings later. But with each subsequent viewing more and more becomes evident, even obvious where it had been obscure before, and the viewer will find themselves even more mesmerized and in love with the sheer beauty than previously.
Truly a mind-blowing movie, that had an ~enormous~ impact on me, my life, and my mind.
- An absolutely brilliant film both in concept and execution.
The Holy Mountain is an epic exploration of religious experience and global socio-political trends. A scathing indictment of the abuse of power by both first and third-world nations, while simultaneously a wonderfully clever fantasy that exposes art and religion as hilarious tools of mass-mind-control. It is a truly sweeping masterpiece full of amazing imagery and even more impressive thought. And it also has one of the best endings you are likely to see -ever. Too bad it is almost impossible to find.
- This is not only, in my opinion, the best movie by maestro Alexandro Jodorowsky, not only the best movie ever made in Mexico or Latin America, or not only the best movie ever...I would say that this sort of work ranks along with the bible or the alcoran of the muslims. It is a proposal with not only an incalculable artistic achievement, but a movie that goes beyond that...A proposal about the human condition, and how to achieve perfection and reach holiness, just like the bible seems to do. As far as a movie, it synthesizes his Panic proposal of the artwork and the world like no other of this work, and can be interpreted in many ways. It's meaningful for everyone who sees it, and cannot be ignored, causing a deep conmotion in every spectator, and him/her to actively participate in the search. In a few words, it is a revelation. A revelation that some people doesn't want you to experience. I dont know how many of you know that the original copies of this movie and El Topo were destroyed by Allen Klein (at least that's how Jodorowsky put it). So, I guess that we the few people who have seen it are very lucky and must really asume that we are. I would synthesize the argument this way (this is what I roughly understood): All the icons that man has created reunite in his mortal form to achieve inmortality, and ultimately holiness. For that, they must become a group, and fuse with a "great self", loosing the concept that each one has of his own. The thief represents christianity, and the rest of the searchers represents a good of the greek pantheon each (Jodorowsky representing the sun, and Ramona Saunders the moon). All of them are thieves, 6 of them represent the most powerful people on the earth, and all of them know that they are mortal. This movie does not criticize any religion, and is not surrealistic either, nor an excersise in sadomasochism (we may be able to say that about "Fando & Lis", his first movie, because that one is an allegory of the couple relationship). Each symbol relates perfectly into a structure that leads you to the end, in which you must participate and assume your own humanity, forgetting about what you understand as "identity". Nevertheless, to come to this conclusion you have to had come across some reading before, and know Jodorowsky's work somehow. Its good that this movie is rated as that because it shows that it caused a reaction, which I believe was the main point, but misunderstood anyway, which has doomed its fate. I am sorry it has been discontinued, mainly because it was misunderstood. I started to become afraid that it would disappear from the face of the earth, but this is the kind of movie that does not become old with time. Its like wine, the more time it spends away, the better it will taste, hopefully. Younger generations seem to like it more than that when it was made. A true view ahead of its time, and perhaps our, because if not, we would be able to buy it at Wal Mart enjoy it without fearing that lawyers would come and get us. Perhaps it just wasnt meant for that.
- what?
what, what what what what? Jesus? Lambs on sticks?
Beautiful. Watch it This film is amazing
Cast: Alejandro Jodorowsky .... The Alchemist
Horácio Salinas .... The Thief
Zamira Saunders .... The Written Woman
Juan Ferrara .... Fon.
Also Known As:
Montaña sagrada, La (1975) (Mexico)
Sacred Mountain, The (1990) (reissue title)
Runtime: Mexico:114 min
Country: USA / Mexico
Language: English
Color: Color (Technicolor)
Jodorowsky's follow up to El Topo
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