Have you seen Santa Sangre?

What is 'Surrealism'?

Sur - re - al - ism (n.) -(often l.c.) a style of art and literature developed principally in the 20th century, stressing the subconscious or non rational significance of imagery arrived at by automatism or the exploitation of chance effects, unexpected juxtapositions, etc.


Santa sangre - Means Holy Blood, this was my first experience with Director Alejandro Jodorowsky (and surrealism in cinema), tells the story of an young man named Fenix confined in a mental asylum with tragic past. Events of the past and present from his life is slowly revealed in a dream like manner with more gruesomeness. The film contains some real weird visualizations with lesser explanation (e.g.Elephant scavengers at City Dump). As with many of Jodorowsky's films, we get to see many freaky looking people (e.g. cross dressed wrestler, midgets etc.) for variety of characters.

On the Acting Front everyone in the film does a fantastic job but in particular Blanca Guerra owns big time as a Religious Fanatic 'Concha', a leader of heretic church Santa Sangre and the armless controlling mother of Fenix. Alma, mute girlfriend of Fenix does a good job as does the Orgo (Knife Thrower) father of Fenix.

This film has got one of the best background score of Jodorowsky's work(by Simon Boswell), with beautiful artistic camera work (by Daniele Nannuzzi) complimenting the slow paced but gritty story line.

In a way this movie ignited my interest in Surrealism & Weird Artistry.