The Holy Mountain

The Holy Mountain

Alejandro Jodorowsky is mainly known around the genre fan community for his wondrous slant on the Spaghetti Western 'El Topo' and his successful journey into dark horror 'Santa Sangre', but with this release from Raro Video of curiously titled 'The Holy Mountain' we get the chance at last to see perhaps Jodorowsky's most visually insane visionary work.

'The Holy Mountain' is no doubt the one film that has generated masses of theoretical debate amongst critics and students of cinema and when you look at what on face value Jodorowsky has delivered you may perhaps question the sanity of anyone that can make sense of his delusional vision.

The film opens with a black garbed alchemist (Jodorowsky himself) stripping and shaving (completely) two subservient women kneeling at his feet. We then cut to a christ like figure (our lead) covered in insects being found by a malformed dwarf whom (after sharing a joint together) heads off into the city where all sorts of chaos is taking place...masked soldiers are running rampage through the bustling city streets randomly massacring citizens (who have small birds bursting into flight from their gaping wounds) whilst screwing passing tourists who are candidly taking snaps of the carnage taking place. None of this seems to be a great deal for anyone, let alone our wandering christ who drifts through the action to happen across such bizarre scenarios as the Great Toad Circus (a toad re-enactment of a bloody Mexican battle) and a bunch of drunk Roman's who after getting him drunk make literally hundred's of full body casts of him to restock their 'christs for sale'.

Just when you think that the film is actually going nowhere whatsoever (and it isn't) our lead comes across a great tower that seems to be the centre of attention in town, curiosity has him climb his way into the tower to meet its inhabitant. And yes (you guessed it) it's the intro's alchemist (Jodorowsky) now dressed all in white who takes our erstwhile Jesus into his confidence and shows him some bewildering alchemy treats (which includes the truly bizarre segment where our witless hero shits in a jar, has a sauna from which his sweat is used to bond with the shit to form a lump of solid gold - don't though try this at home!)

A plot (of sorts) soon then falls into place as the alchemist introduces our lead to a group of the city's leading capitalists citizens, each with their own special area of deviation and power hungry domination; there's the chap with hundred's of wives who runs (among other things) a mattress factory (where he recruits his betrothed) and his blind deaf father who makes all his business decisions by way of whether or not his wife's pussy is damp (and we're not talking kittens here). There's the woman who delights in producing deadly weapons and psychotic drugs, the drug addled aristocrat with the human art factory (interactive live body parts in sculptures) and the presidents financial advisor who suggests that four million citizens be executed to help sustain the economy (targeting universities as an initial target of course). Rounding off the twisted entourage is the chief of police who we see slicing off a young lads tadger as part of an initiation into the force (something our own police might consider?), the architect who believes homes should be replaced with hive like mini shelters and the war machine that controls all politics and conditions children ready to go to war with the poor none the wiser sheep herding Peruvians!

Still with me? Good, right onto the meat of the plot...basically all these decadent control have everything but then again nothing and what they truly desire is the secret of immortality and this can seemingly be found at the top of the Holy Mountain (ahh, there's your title then eh?) So they have gathered with the hope that alchemist Jodorowsky can lead them to their holy grail. But what will they indeed find at the end of the quest?

'The Holy Mountain' is one of those movies that will either delight or deeply frustrate and admittedly in the opening section of the movie I fell into the latter category of viewer. For many years there has been one area of film that has annoyed me deeply and that is the snobbish smart arse attitude of so called art house cinema. You know the sort of films? All surreal visual eye candy and no substance whatsoever, to the casual viewer it's pure meaningless tat but to the aspiring middle class theatre goers and knowledgeable wannabe it's a sea of intellectual debate and 'The Holy Mountain' definitely falls into the viewing category of the latter. The opening segments have no sense of direction or worthwhile substance but then again the 'intellectual' will no doubt disagree (and to be honest I couldn't care!) But rather than thinking that 'The Holy Mountain' is an irritating slice of pomp I have to admit by the end of the movie I found it to be a very entertaining (albeit brain busting) slice of cult cinema fun! The segments concentrating on each of the capitalist overlords are splendid viewing; tastelessly funny, depraved and wholly entertaining. Sure at times (especially in the opening sequence) the film screams pretentious but it cant be denied that Jodorowsky is a simply stunning director when it comes to pure visual flair. But the thing that tipped my feelings on the movie around completely was the finale scene that was immensely gratifying and made me laugh out loud. I wont say what happens (it would kill the pay off for those new to the movie) but I was greatly satisfied that it does feel as though Jodorowsky has set up the art house crowd for a great mocking slap in the face with the films closing scene. 'The Holy Mountain' is without doubt Jodorowsky's most challenging film by far, many of you may find it near to a test of endurance but if you are open to some truly insane wandering themes and massively surreal visuals then you'll find this worthy of your time.

Like their presentation of 'El Topo', Raro Video have done themselves proud with a splendid DVD presentation that should delight fans of Jodorowsky's work. The letterbox print is colourful and clean throughout with optional English and Italian audio tracks on offer. Like the 'El Topo' disc, Jodorowsky expert Massimo Monteleone is back once again to discuss 'The Holy Mountain' and it's reaction when originally released. I enjoyed this interview more so than the one on the 'El Topo' disc as Monteleone seems to be having much more fun discussing the subject which carries through well when viewing. Again, there is a nice selection of Jodorowsky background info on offer throughout the package in the form of ROM extras and another nicely presented 12 page insert booklet (in both English and Italian) which includes amongst other things an interesting interview with the man himself.

A truly bizarre film that perhaps wont be to everyone's taste (or sensibilities) but an alluring curiosity never the less and a delightful presentation from Raro Video in Italy. Nice!

Review by Alan Simpson


 
Released by Raro Video
Region 2 - PAL
Rated - 14 !
Ratio - 2.35:1
Audio - Optional English or Italian 2.0 Stereo surround
Subtitles - Optional Italian
Extras :
Interview, Biography, Filmography, Film notes
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