The Holy Mountain

Plot

A Christlike figure wanders through bizarre, grotesque scenarios filled with religious and sacrilegious imagery. He meets a mystical guide who introduces him to seven wealthy and powerful people, each representing a planet in the Solar system. These seven, along with the protagonist, the guide and the guide's assistant, divest themselves of their worldly goods and form a group of nine who will seek the Holy Mountain, in order to displace the gods who live there and become immortal.

Why watch

"The Holy Mountain" is a visually arresting odyssey that challenges viewers to confront the absurdities of existence and the trappings of materialism. Jodorowsky's surrealist masterpiece invites you on a pilgrimage of enlightenment, where grotesque imagery and philosophical musings intertwine in a quest for transcendence.

Talking points

• the intersection of art and spirituality
• the critique of wealth and power
• the role of absurdity in understanding existence
• the impact of visual storytelling on emotional experience

Cultural context

If you liked this

Influenced by

Went on to influence