I have been waiting for a long time to see "El Topo". When you realize how hard it can be to get it, it can sound somehow mysterious...however, the film itself is even more mysterious. Yes, there are several Bunuel influences in this film. Bunuel is one of the biggest names in the surreal movement, and he's also known for a very audacious scene in his film entitled "Un chien andalou"...yes, I'm talking about the first gore scene, involving an eye being sliced with a razor blade. Now, how is Bunuel influencial on Jodorowsky's work? I would say for the gore, because "El Topo", for its time, must have been considered as a very violent and bloody film, and also for the surreal part. But here I'll have to bring a nuance...many people say it is a surreal film, which I am more than a hundred percent sure would have been denied by the creators of the surreal movement. Yes, the images in "El Topo" are really bizarre, amazing, beautifully strange, but that does not mean surreal. The film has a message, and it is too obvious to be considered as part of a surreal ensemble. Okay, it says more on the author himself than it says about the main character, but the continuity and the fact that there is actually a "storyline" you can follow are not compatible with the movement it is too often associated to. The film is full of symbols, and, consequently, I do believe that Jodorowsky is more of a symbolist that likes to add surreal images to his films.
Anyways, that said, I can say that "El Topo" is truly an unforgettable experience. It starts with a very beautiful shot of El Topo and his son walking in the desert. That particular first image tells you right in the beginning that you are not about to watch a very ordinary film. You watch this "mole" (that's what "Topo" means in english) visiting a village where everyone has been massacred, you watch him confront several "masters" of the desert, including one he covers with dead rabbits and a blind one that is an incredible fast shooter. You also see a woman, with a despotic husband (who seems to be some kind of ancient army guy) being freed by El Topo, and her husband being stripped, being humiliated, being forced to shoot himself. Again, these are all symbols. All the images are there to represent something, they have meanings. So, with all thses crazily bizarre images, what is El Topo about? It is clear that this film is about religion. It is a vision of several gods confronting each other. El Topo encounters two women in his path, and (Spoilers warning) they betray him in the end...and then he's born again, in a village, a place where he is not accepted...does it remind you of something? Yes, the Bible..."El Topo" is the Bible, with surreal ideas and images. It's an allegory of many religions, and if you know enough about them (which does not necessarily mean you're a believer), you'll understand "El Topo", and you'll recognize the symbols. It is really worth the time to study a little bit many religions before seeing this film. It is an interesting parallel explanation of christianity that I think most believers (in their absolutely unopened minds) will not like. Those who like putting more nuance in things will like it, though.
I'm sorry to have explained all that, and I remind you that it is my own (but also a pretty common) interpretation of it. But now, also in a more common way, let's talk about the other aspects of the film. The acting is very good, even though the copy I have is in english with Japanese subtitles (yes it is a bootleg version, I didn't know that before I got it...I bought it from Ebay...so beware if you want to get your own copy) and the film's original language was spanish. Alejandro Jodorowsky plays the main character, and he has talent as an actor as much as he has talent as a director. Also, the first woman he encounters (I think it's Mara) is also a great actress, even thought it was her only appearance in a film.
The directing is pretty great, even though not as good as what was done in "The Holy Mountain". Jodorowsky has taken his time to make this film, like any other of his films. He knows how to make an image impressive and fascinating. His directing gives a slow paced mood, and plunges the viewer in the universe of his reincarnated Bible using very lenghty shots and very quiet sound effects that are broken by the characters (like the noise of foot steps in a deserted town), again, this directing technique speaks by itself and is, somehow, a symbol, again. That is not the only interesting technique he uses, but I'll let you discover the others by yourself.
Finally, I would say that "El Topo" is a very strange and beautiful film full of symbols and surreal images that will truly please to intellectuals and people who are tired of the average blockbuster. It could also teach a very good lesson to some main stream imbecils that try to make "surreal" films these days (hello Gregg Araki...) or enjoy these "wannabe films" (...hello fans of Gregg Araki!). Some christians are open-minded and others are not, and this film s only for the open-minded ones. Also, if you're not a believer (like me) but still know a little about some religions, you should definitely go for it. this film is very hard to rate, really, because there is no doubt it is good, but it really is not usual. Anyways, here's the rating I give it, it's now yours to decide if it is accurate...
9/10
Note: By the way, "El Topo" and "The Holy Mountain" are the only two Jodorowsky films I've seen, but "Santa Sangre" is number one on my must-see list, I just can't wait to see it and even though I haven't seen it, I also recommend it!
Anyways, that said, I can say that "El Topo" is truly an unforgettable experience. It starts with a very beautiful shot of El Topo and his son walking in the desert. That particular first image tells you right in the beginning that you are not about to watch a very ordinary film. You watch this "mole" (that's what "Topo" means in english) visiting a village where everyone has been massacred, you watch him confront several "masters" of the desert, including one he covers with dead rabbits and a blind one that is an incredible fast shooter. You also see a woman, with a despotic husband (who seems to be some kind of ancient army guy) being freed by El Topo, and her husband being stripped, being humiliated, being forced to shoot himself. Again, these are all symbols. All the images are there to represent something, they have meanings. So, with all thses crazily bizarre images, what is El Topo about? It is clear that this film is about religion. It is a vision of several gods confronting each other. El Topo encounters two women in his path, and (Spoilers warning) they betray him in the end...and then he's born again, in a village, a place where he is not accepted...does it remind you of something? Yes, the Bible..."El Topo" is the Bible, with surreal ideas and images. It's an allegory of many religions, and if you know enough about them (which does not necessarily mean you're a believer), you'll understand "El Topo", and you'll recognize the symbols. It is really worth the time to study a little bit many religions before seeing this film. It is an interesting parallel explanation of christianity that I think most believers (in their absolutely unopened minds) will not like. Those who like putting more nuance in things will like it, though.
I'm sorry to have explained all that, and I remind you that it is my own (but also a pretty common) interpretation of it. But now, also in a more common way, let's talk about the other aspects of the film. The acting is very good, even though the copy I have is in english with Japanese subtitles (yes it is a bootleg version, I didn't know that before I got it...I bought it from Ebay...so beware if you want to get your own copy) and the film's original language was spanish. Alejandro Jodorowsky plays the main character, and he has talent as an actor as much as he has talent as a director. Also, the first woman he encounters (I think it's Mara) is also a great actress, even thought it was her only appearance in a film.
The directing is pretty great, even though not as good as what was done in "The Holy Mountain". Jodorowsky has taken his time to make this film, like any other of his films. He knows how to make an image impressive and fascinating. His directing gives a slow paced mood, and plunges the viewer in the universe of his reincarnated Bible using very lenghty shots and very quiet sound effects that are broken by the characters (like the noise of foot steps in a deserted town), again, this directing technique speaks by itself and is, somehow, a symbol, again. That is not the only interesting technique he uses, but I'll let you discover the others by yourself.
Finally, I would say that "El Topo" is a very strange and beautiful film full of symbols and surreal images that will truly please to intellectuals and people who are tired of the average blockbuster. It could also teach a very good lesson to some main stream imbecils that try to make "surreal" films these days (hello Gregg Araki...) or enjoy these "wannabe films" (...hello fans of Gregg Araki!). Some christians are open-minded and others are not, and this film s only for the open-minded ones. Also, if you're not a believer (like me) but still know a little about some religions, you should definitely go for it. this film is very hard to rate, really, because there is no doubt it is good, but it really is not usual. Anyways, here's the rating I give it, it's now yours to decide if it is accurate...
9/10
Note: By the way, "El Topo" and "The Holy Mountain" are the only two Jodorowsky films I've seen, but "Santa Sangre" is number one on my must-see list, I just can't wait to see it and even though I haven't seen it, I also recommend it!