The Holy Mountain (1973)

Original Title

La montaña sagrada

Genres

Drama, Fantasy

Director

Alexandro Jodorowsky

Country

Mexico

Cast

Alejandro Jodoroswky, Horacio Salinas, Ramona Saunders, Juan Ferrara, Adriana Page, Burt Kleiner, Valiere Jordowsky, Nicky Nichols, Richard Rutoswky, Luis Lomeli, Ana de Sade, David Silva, Basilio Gonzalez, Lupita Peruyero, Héctor Ortega, Connie de la Mora, Leticia Robles, Blanca Sanchez

Storyline

An alchemist (Alejandro Jodorowsky) leads a Christlike figure (Horacio Salinas) and seven wealthy and powerful people to the Holy Mountain where they hope to achieve enlightenment. 

Opinion

I've seen a fair share of weird and bizarre films in my short life but The Holy Mountain easily is the most insane and fucked up. Some say this is not just a film, but it's an experience. I agree, it's a dreadful experience that bored me to death. And frankly, I'm not even sure I understood the movie but I have no intention whatsoever to go through this again.

Although there's something resembling a very simple and linear story, it feels like this film doesn't even have a screenplay. There are just some random things happening that somehow manage to tell a story. God only knows how.

But that's not really a problem after all this is a satirical film about power, politics religion and spirituality, and the obsession of a lot of humans to find enlightenment and/or the purification of the soul. The problem is that in order to get that (only in part because I didn't fully understand the movie) I had to go through a lot of disgusting images (and pretty offensive to religious people, which I'm not) that are supposed to provoke thought, but that did nothing to me. It wasn't all the nudity weirdness going on that bothered me but the sick animal scenes/abuses/cruelty. I love animals and I will never be okay with it.

However, The Holy Mountain does have a redeeming aspect. Visually, it is outstanding. Even though most of the scenes are disgusting, the majority of them are pretty mesmerizing thanks to some wonderful colours and nearly flawless sets, locations, costumes and props.