The Holy Mountain

The Holy Mountain is a 1973 film written, directed, produced and starring Alejandro Jodorowsky. It's an ambitious experimental film that ambitiously grapples with themes of spirituality, greed, power, and materialism. Frequently recognized for its eclectic and dreamlike visuals, for its time, it's a marvelously audacious work of art that challenged traditional narrative and cinematic norms.

Jodorowsky's The Holy Mountain opens as an allegory, deploying symbolic strategies to comment on the human condition’s deep-rooted struggle between spiritual enlightenment and the material world's allure. A Christ-like figure (played by Horacio Salinas), identified in the film as The Thief, emerges in the midst of chaos, poverty, and political unrest. Stumbling through this dystopian landscape, he's caught up in a world where sacred and revered religious artifacts have been commercialized, overtaken by the allure of wealth and greed.

The storyline shifts gears when The Thief meets The Alchemist (played by Alejandro Jodorowsky himself), a powerful guru who is privy to the ultimate path of spiritual awakening. The Alchemist gathers a group of seven individuals, each representing a planet and associated with a particular earthly sin. Among this group of seven are representatives of the war industry, cosmetics, art, police, and politics – reflecting different aspects of societal decadence and corruption.

The Alchemist leads this diverse group on an extra-ordinary pilgrimage to climb the Holy Mountain, where they hope to gain infinite wisdom and replace the immortal gods who reside there. The group's quest in achieving spiritual enlightenment forms the heart of the film. However, their journey is riddled with psychedelic trials and mystic rituals, each an allegorical reflection of the characters shedding their material desires and egoistic selves.

The overall lush and dreamlike aesthetics of the film are strongly rooted in Jodorowsky's background as a poet, mime artist, and his association with the surrealism movement. The film goes beyond conventional storytelling, inviting audiences to engage with its unique blend of surreal images, intense symbols, and metaphoric tableau vivants.

The cast of The Holy Mountain features Horacio Salinas as The Thief and Jodorowsky as The Alchemist, with Zamira Saunders, Juan Ferrara, Adriana Page, Burt Kleiner, Valerie Jodorowsky, and others as the seven planet representatives. The performances are vastly unique and expressive, each character reflecting a distinct physicality and aura that matches their metaphorical roles in the narrative.

This film isn't limited to surrealism and spiritual themes alone but intertwines with a commentary on social, political, and economic issues of the era, particularly critiquing materialism and consumerism. Jodorowsky uses excessive violence, sexual content, and bizarre images to show the impact of power and wealth on individuals and society. He doesn't shy away from displaying grotesque scenes to illustrate the cruelty and futility of war, the superficiality of the art world, or the exploitative practices within the beauty industry.

Beyond the narrative, The Holy Mountain's cinematography by Rafael Corkidi is truly exquisite, capturing colorful, baroque sets and surreal tableaus that feel like they've been painted onto the screen. The costumes, set design, and makeup further amplify the film's fantastical and mythical atmosphere, while the original music by Don Cherry and Jodorowsky himself complements the film's psychedelic tone and philosophical depth.

The Holy Mountain, although not released widely due to its provocative and controversial themes, has grown into a cult classic over the years. It's a polarizing film that pushes the boundaries of cinema, challenging viewers with its nonlinear plot, abstract symbolism, and blending of religious and metaphysical elements.

Today, it's praised for its audacious blending of Eastern and Western philosophies, Christianity and Paganism, reality and fantasy— all while showcasing Jodorowsky's commitment to spiritual exploration and unapologetic creative vision. Whether approached as a religious satire, a commentary on human obsession with material wealth, or a bold exploration of spiritual liberation, The Holy Mountain is an enduring piece of cinema that continues to inspire and provoke.