1. Who is Alejandro Jodorowsky?
Jodorowsky is a noted, though rather obscure, director. He made many films on a limited budget, that gained a degree of critical acclaim among more progressive circles.2. What are his most famous films?
His most famous, or perhaps infamous, films are Il Topo and The Holy Mountain.3. What is Dune?
Dune is a novel by Frank Herbert, published in 1965. It has been made into films twice, once by David Lynch, and once in a miniseries format hosted by the Sci Fi chanel.4. Who are the key artists that Jodorowsky brought together for his project, and what was the contribution of each of them?
The cast of Jodorowsky’s Dune was stellar. First, it featured Dali who brought an element of surrealism to playing of the character. Second, HR Geiger did much of the set design/illustration, bringing a darkness and biomechanical feel. Jodorowsky cast his son as Paul Atredies, providing youth and energy. He sought out several musicians, but was refused by many of them. He also used the artist Moebius as a primary sketch artist, creating the structural elements of the story, and the storyboards from which Jodorowsky worked. He employed Dan O’Bannon as a special effects artist as well.
5. What was Jodorowsky’s approach to working with other artists?
Jodorowsky gave them a great deal of freedom. He sought to channel the unique approach of each artist, and play to their strengths, while letting his vision shine through. Each artist was given a great range of ability to play out his vision, and Jodorowsky sought to unify that into a cohesive whole. 6. What did Jodorowsky hope to communicate through his version of Dune?
He sought to communicate the sheer grandeur of the story, the epic nature of the tale that was very messianic. He wanted to create a story that would be universal, yet individually applicable, one that would be vast, and expansive, yet tied to the quotidian. He sought to tell the story of Dune, but more, he sought to convey the feeling of the novel through use of imagery, sound, and acting.7. Offer three quotes from the movie and explain why you found them interesting.“Spiritual warriors” Jodorowsky refered to the members of his team thus. I found this fascinating because it taps into the messianic nature of the story, as well as making the creation of the film a grand journey.
“A film that would give you hallucinations without drugs.” This implies that the director understood the surrealism of what he was trying to create. It indicates a degree of self-awareness regarding the project, and, in some ways, a prescient understanding that perhaps the film would not be made.
“I was raping Frank Herbert.” This is interesting because it indicates the director both felt some guilt about departing from the original source text, and that he was, none the less, alright with that. That is, he knew he was not staying faithful to the novel, but did not mind the digression.
8. Why didn’t Jodorowsky’s Dune get made?
At the most base level, it did not get made because it was over budget. The director could not find a studio to take on the expense of the project. Beyond this, the story was simply too broad and transgressive to be suited to an audience of the time.
9. What are some of the other projects that appear to be influenced by Jodorowsky’s Dune?
It has influenced a huge range of projects including Alien, 2001, Blade Runner, and the Matrix.
10. What did Jodorowsky think of David Lynch’s Dune?
He was not fond of it. That said, however, he defended David Lynch, who he admires, by stating that the film was not a Lynch project, it was the product of the studio.
11. After watching this film, what are your prominent impressions of Jodorowsky?
He is a highly energetic, highly imaginative man, with a driving passion to create unique, memorable films. I was struck by his willingness to work outside the box, and create something that had never been seen before. He was dynamic, engaging, and obviously very talented. Perhaps the most striking thing about him was his ability to create a solid cast of support staff around him, pulling the best that those around him had to offer and using it to best advantage.
12. How would you rate the quality of this documentary? Is it well made? Would you recommend it to friends or family? Explain.
I would recommend it very highly. It was a fascinating film, deeply engaging, and discussing a highly interesting topic. It used enough direct interview footage, coupled with significant portions of other individuals speaking, to retain my interest easily. Jodorowsky is a dynamic speaker, who is easy to both follow and identify with. I would certainly encourage my family to see it, because they are interested in the way things are created, and the stories behind them. This film clearly laid out the story, the strengths and failings, and the ultimate inability to create the film.
