Alejandro Jodorowsky was born on February 17, 1929, in the coastal town of Tocopilla, Chile. As a young man, he relocated to Santiago in 1939, where he pursued his higher education while also developing his skills as a circus clown and puppeteer. This multifaceted background would later influence his eclectic and innovative approach to art and filmmaking.
In 1953, Jodorowsky made the bold decision to move to Paris, where he immersed himself in the city's vibrant artistic scene. He studied mime under the tutelage of the renowned Marcel Marceau and collaborated with the legendary Maurice Chevalier on a short film, La cravate, in 1957. During this period, he also befriended the surrealist artists Roland Topor and Fernando Arrabal, with whom he would later co-found the "Panic Movement" in 1962.
As a key figure in this movement, Jodorowsky wrote several books and theatrical pieces that explored the boundaries of surrealism and avant-garde art. In the late 1960s, he directed experimental theater productions in both Paris and Mexico City, created the popular comic strip "Fabulas Panicas," and brought his unique vision to the big screen with the surrealist love story Fando and Lis, based on a play by Arrabal.
The 1970s saw Jodorowsky's career reach new heights with the release of El Topo (1970) and The Holy Mountain (1973),both of which gained cult followings and cemented his status as a visionary filmmaker. However, his ambitious plans for a film adaptation of Frank Herbert's "Dune," which would have featured an all-star cast, including Orson Welles and Salvador Dalí, ultimately fell through due to financial constraints.
Undeterred, Jodorowsky continued to push the boundaries of his art, directing the critically acclaimed Santa Sangre in 1989 and working on various comic strips, graphic novels, and cartoons throughout the 1980s. He also wrote several books and collaborated with his sons, Brontis, Axel, and Adan, who have all appeared in his films.
In the 1990s, Jodorowsky continued to produce cartoons and graphic novels, and his work remains widely respected and admired to this day. He is reportedly set to begin work on a new film, the long-awaited "Sons Of El Topo," sometime in the near future. Throughout his remarkable career, Jodorowsky has remained true to his artistic vision, inspiring generations of filmmakers, artists, and fans around the world.
