The Surrealism Of The Sacred Mountain

I have always liked films that take me on an enigmatic and surreal journey that challenges conventional narrative and invites a wide range of interpretations.

The following review reflects my personal interpretation of this extraordinary cinematic experience.

The story begins with a Christlike figure, a thief, wandering through a bizarre and symbolic landscape. He encounters a circus that metaphorically portrays the destruction of the Aztecs by European colonizers. This spectacle is orchestrated by various versions of 18th- and 19th-century world leaders and regimes, blending history with a nightmarish carnival of power and subjugation.

The thief, due to his resemblance to Jesus Christ, is tricked and kidnapped by a group of people who create Christ figures. They see him as the perfect candidate for their mold. He awakens in a room surrounded by statues of himself in a crucified position, a deeply unsettling scene that evokes feelings of anger and confusion. In a fit of rage, he destroys the statues and lashes out at the statue makers, only to realize that they were merely doing what they needed to survive. This brief moment of understanding and compassion is surprisingly touching, offering a rare glimpse of human vulnerability in an otherwise chaotic world.

As the story progresses, the thief ascends a tower in search of higher power, possibly a reflection of his earlier failed attempt to find solace in the church. There, he encounters a man dressed in white, who for me represents an allegory of Hindu spirituality. The man's surroundings are filled with animals and symbols reminiscent of Hindu and Sanskrit traditions, and his calming presence introduces the thief to the principles of meditation and inner peace.

The man, who is revealed to be an alchemist, imparts his wisdom to the thief, who becomes one of his students. Together with seven others, each representing a planet in the solar system, they embark on a quest to find the elixir of immortality on the Holy Mountain. Each character embodies a different aspect of life, with their dark sides symbolizing the flaws and struggles inherent in human existence.

I think that the Earth was represented by the thief and was missing from this cosmic gathering before, with his dark side symbolising anger (which is shown throughout the first half of the movie)

The quest is not a typical adventure; it is a spiritual journey toward enlightenment and nirvana. The characters must relinquish their material possessions, identities, and even their bodies, shedding all worldly attachments in their pursuit of true wisdom. This process, depicted in a surreal and often shocking manner, challenges the audience to reconsider the nature of existence and the path to spiritual fulfillment.

I won't spoil the ending, but it's worth noting that *The Holy Mountain* raises profound questions about control, reality, and the very nature of life itself. Is our existence governed by unseen forces, or is it all an illusion? These are just some of the many theories and ideas that the film explores.

If you're in search of a surreal, thought-provoking experience, *The Holy Mountain* is a film that demands to be seen. It is a cinematic odyssey unlike any other, offering viewers a chance to explore the depths of their own consciousness and beliefs.