Review of The Holy Mountain on DVD
Newly Restored Release Includes Interesting Bonus Material
Dec 27, 2007
After ending a long-standing feud between producer Allen Klein and himself, controversial writer-director Jodorowsky agreed to place three of his feature-length films, his first short film, a documentary, two music soundtracks, and loads of bonus material in the collection to introduce a new generation of avant-garde film lovers to his bizarre artistry.
The Story of The Holy Mountain
The original trailer for the film (included in the bonus features on the DVD) states that “The Holy Mountain is outside the realm of criticism and review.” Filled with alchemical illusions, tarot symbols, existential ideas, explicit gore and violence, gratuitous nudity, sacrilegious imagery, and perverse beauty, The Holy Mountain is indeed more abstract concept than story. A thief goes on a journey to seek enlightenment with the help of an all-knowing alchemist (played by Jodorowsky). Various people, all of whom represent astrological symbols, join them in their quest to the holy mountain.
As in his other films, Fando Y Lis (1968) and El Topo (1970) contained in the box set, this movie about the search for enlightenment breaks out of the traditional cinematic mold by not adhering to a logical, linear story that is easily understood, but ventures into surreal art that asks more questions than it answers. Early scenes in the film have voiceovers for the actors who do not move their mouths while speaking. Filmed in English, The Holy Mountain is considered grotesque, shocking, and obscene by many – including the Mexican government of the 1970s, according to the 2006 commentary by Jodorowsky. Filming was briefly halted when he fled Mexico and moved to New York in order to protect his family from death threats related to the film’s content.
Beatle George Harrison Considered a Role
Already championed by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, the director says that George Harrison loved the script and originally planned to star in the role of the thief. A particularly graphic nude scene, which Jodorowsky refused to cut, however, forced Harrison to back out of the project and an unknown actor (Horacio Salinas) took the role. Nudity plays a large part in The Holy Mountain, with most of the actors (young and old) appearing without clothes. Hallucinogenic drugs were also present on-and-off-screen according to the commentary.
In a deleted scene, Jodorowsky also reveals that shock rocker Marilyn Manson borrowed the film’s image of television sets arranged in a cross for one of his performances. Jodorowsky himself admits to borrowing or paying homage to many other filmmakers, artists, and sculptors in this film, in addition to criticizing politicians, religious leaders, poets, and writers.
- The Holy Mountain
- Director: Alejandro Jodorowsky
- Movie Run Time: 113 minutes
- Rating: Not Rated (Contains strong sexual content, nudity, and graphic violence)
- DVD Box Set Bonus Features: The Holy Mountain (includes feature-length film, commentary, deleted scenes, “The Tarot,” “Restoring The Holy Mountain,” Original Trailer, and more), El Topo (includes feature-length film plus commentary and on-camera interview with Jodorowsky), Fando Y Lis (includes feature-length film plus commentary). The set also provides soundtracks for El Topo and The Holy Mountain, plus La Cravate (Jodorowsky’s first short film) and La Constellation Jodorowsky (a documentary on the life and art of the filmmaker). Subtitles in English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and French.
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