The Holy Mountain (Alejandro Jodorowsky, 1973)

If you had told me that I would love a film whose plot points included a reenactment of the conquest of Mexico by frogs, turning excrement into gold, a pet snake who wears a sweater, and a beautiful woman who has a constant monkey companion, I would probably have been insulted. Avant-garde filmmaking always treads that thin line between making a point (maybe) and being unintentionally funny, but Alejandro Jodorowsky, in his cult classic The Holy Mountain, portrays all those things and more in a way that is clever, meaningful, and exceptionally beautiful. The plot centers around a thief who is crucified, but doesn't die and instead meets up with an alchemist and a group of eight others who are seeking the secrets of immortality. But the plot says little to nothing about the film itself, which is, without a doubt, the most beautiful I've ever seen. The entire movie made my jaw drop, in its audacity and gorgeous visuals, and it ends by pulling back the curtain on the filmmaking process. Jodorowsky, whose Fando & Lis I really enjoyed, really hit it out of the park with this one. This film deserves the beautiful transfer the DVD has to offer, and the (too-brief) extras are entertaining. If you love avant-garde film, or if you don't, I definitely suggest watching The Holy Mountain. It will surprise you, and it might even leave you speechless. 9/10

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