The Holy Mountain

A two-hour spiritual and bodily practice, a journey into the world of altered states, where each frame is a completely autonomous artistic work, a colorful performance filled with numerous secrets and symbols. Here are the words from the author:

"I had a million dollars, the money was given by John Lennon... I wanted to make 'The Holy Mountain' a film about mystical enlightenment. I searched all of New York, Mexico City, and Los Angeles to find actors who would play the sages... But the actors I chose were useless — they all wanted to make money, become famous, and take drugs. Before filming began, I locked them in a house for two months. I allowed them to sleep only four hours a day, and we went through a course of mystical training — a mix of Zen and yoga. I was out of my mind, but I was convinced that I had to create something sacred.

While making 'The Holy Mountain,' I tried to be as honest as possible. I didn't dream of becoming rich or famous. There is almost no dialogue in the film, but I didn't intend to make it entertaining or amusing — I wanted to expand the boundaries of consciousness. I perceived cinema as poetry, and I always said that I was looking for in cinema what hippies seek in drugs. I tried to make a film that would blow minds.

If I hadn't made this film, I would be working as a psychiatrist now."