Salutations!

I’ve recently found myself interested in Art House cinematography; I’ve come to watch The Lighthouse and The Holy Mountain most recently. I thought it would be interesting to review, as I believe it deserves some attention even now, nearly 50 years after Its premiere.

The Story

The Holy Mountain is a story concerning man’s pursuit of immortality. Throughout many ages and civilizations, men have believed that the secret of immortality lies in the hands of druids, monks, and philosophers who lived at the peak of some sacred mountain, from where they ruled all mankind. To conquer the mountain, one must rid himself of earthly desires, of the self that is ruled by these immortals, and only thus, can he ascend. In the end, when the mountain gets conquered, it is revealed to us that immortality cannot be achieved by men who are not truly living. If the ultimate goal for the climber is the peak, and it is reached, then what? If the climber truly believes He has reached the end, He would perish, but instead, He lives on. In the same premise, One who does not limit himself in life will never truly perish; with great deeds, one becomes a legend, as the druids, monks, and philosophers that made themselves immortal in the tales of countless civilizations.

Symbolism

In the first half of the film, Alejandro Jodorowsky vaguely references the life of Jesus Christ. Our protagonist, who has no name, lives out an adventure with his amputee friend. We see surreal recreations of people and events from the bible: Jesus banishing the moneylenders from the temple, his encounter with Mary Magdalene, his miracles, etc. Thereafter we encounter alchemy and its attempts to turn anything, even human excretions, into gold. Our protagonist’s allies are revealed to be people of power, political or economic. They are introduced with a name of their own and a planet’s name, which represents their life and personality, as a reflection of a Roman god.

Conclusion

The Holy Mountain is a surreal, disturbing, and at times, comedic film. It is presented in such a way that it almost feels like a deliberate attempt to stop you from watching it, but it rewards you with an experience unlike any other. However, try to be a little selective about whom you watch it with, they will surely judge you.

Until next time, R&M