I only recently got into the films of avant-garde Chilean filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky. (AJ). I’d broadly describe him as sort of the South American Fellini. His films are a trip - and there is something of a Stones connection.

Mostly known for his El Topo, often called the 1st ‘midnight cult’ movie. As the story goes, (pardon me if I have some details wrong) John and Yoko loved the film while seeing it in NY, and enlisted Allen Klein to assist in getting further films made, through ABKO. At one point, AJ was trying to make the 1st cinematic production of Dune, and hoped to get Jagger to star, and had talks with Pink Floyd to provide the music. There’s a movie about the film ultimately NOT getting made (a la Terry Gillian’s stalled Don Quixote), and eventually it was turned over to David Lynch, who by most accounts botched it.

For those that enjoy a late night head trip of a movie (and I bet some of you are) - check him out. He’s out there, man. El Topo is good. Better still IMO is Santa Sangre (you might be able to see this for free on Prime). My fave though is Holy Mountain, which is like a serious acid trip. He has a couple others - there’s a box set worth getting.
He’s in his 90s now, so we likely will not see another AJ movie, but for the adventurous movie fan, check him out!

His films are mind-blowers for sure. Even his more recent ones are provocative and heady.
I saw Santa Sangre opening night around 1989 and everyone left the theatre speechless, although once the shock wore off, there was plenty to dissect.

It's a pity about Dune. It either would have been the most epic psychedelic sci-fi film ever, or a total train wreck, but it did set the stage for films like Star Wars and Alien and is probably the only film that changed the landscape of cinema without actually being made (the storyboards made the rounds in Hollywood and were viewed by people like Spielberg, Lucas, and Ridley Scott).

There is a great documentary, "Jodorowsky's Dune", that gives you a good idea of what he had intended to do.

On the one hand it's a pity the movie never got made, on the other hand, considering what was technically possible back then, the movie would perhaps seem outdated and unintentionally hilarious today. Also, it may well have ended as the most famous movie that never got finished.

Alejandro Jodorowsky's 'Il funerale dell'elefante Gop' film clip, from the film 'Santa Sangre' 1989 - my favorite Jodorowsky film.


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I was shown El Topo years ago and was NOT ready for it. I like experimental film, and older films, but this was like "wtf". I hated it lol.

YEARS have gone by and @#$%& if I don't think about that movie 4 times a year maybe? I've never rewatched it, but I remember it all so well and to me thats a sign of a great film. I should rewatch it, but I have totally changed my tune, great movie. If nothing just for the visuals. Its very memorable.

I saw the Jorodowsky's Dune documentary fairly recently, when the new Dune came out. It was really good. Guy was a visionary. Reminds me of my Israeli friend who has grand ideas and doesn't get why more people aren't just gung ho and ready to chase their dreams. So many people feel they are rational (myself included) and stomp down good ideas instead of actually running with them. I guess thats the balance of living in the real world and trying to support yourself, but definitely good to have those thinkers around. We need them.

I've been meaning to watch The Holy Mountain too. It's amazing that he's still alive too.

"El Topo" is my favorite, I imagine because it was the first one I saw, but "Santa Sangre" or "La Montaña Sagrada" are also recommended. The documentary about the ill-fated Dune is also very interesting.

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RollingFreak
I've been meaning to watch The Holy Mountain too. It's amazing that he's still alive too.

You should! Holy Mountain was my first Jodorowsky movie, back in the late 70s, when still at school. No matter what one thinks of it, to me it's one of the movies one should have seen.

In the Dune documentary, Jodorowsky suggests to use his story board (which he presents there) for an anime version of the film. That would even seem feasible to me using today's technology, and certainly a lot cheaper than a "regular" movie.

Jodorowsky and Arrabal are linked, for those interested in Panic Theater - Pamic Movement.


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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024-08-18 12:57 by emotionalbarbecue.