NZIFF Film Review: "Endless Poetry" ("Poesía Sin Fin") (2016).

From the director of El Topo, The Holy Mountain and The Dance of Reality comes Endless Poetry (Poesía Sin Fin). This French-Chilean drama film directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky. It is the second part of Jodorowsky's film autobiography, which began with The Dance of Reality (2013), which focused on Jodorowsky's childhood in Tocopilla, northern Chile. Through Jodorowsky's autobiographical lens, the film narrates the years of the Chilean artist's youth during which he liberated himself from all of his former limitations, from his family, and was introduced into the foremost bohemian artistic circle of 1940s Chile where he met Enrique Lihn, Stella Díaz Varín, Nicanor Parra... at the time promising young but unknown artists who would later become the titans of twentieth-century Hispanic literature. He grew inspired by the beauty of existence alongside these beings, exploring life together, authentically and freely. A tribute to Chile's artistic heritage, Endless Poetry is also an ode to the quest for beauty and inner truth, as a universal force capable of changing one's life forever, written by a man who has dedicated his life and career to creating spiritual and artistic awareness across the globe.

By early July 2015, Jodorowsky with his sons Adan and Brontis Jodorowsky, and grandson Jeremias Herskovits, with Pamela Flores, Leandro Taub, Felipe Ríos, Bastián Bodenhofer, and Felipe Peña were cast in the second part of Jodorowsky's film autobiography, which began with The Dance of Reality (2013), which focused on Jodorowsky's childhood in Tocopilla, northern Chile. At the same time, principal photography commenced, anda wrapped in late August. Filming took place in Santiago, Chile and Tocopilla, northern Chile. The film marked Flores' last film as she died during the making of this film.

The film stars Jodorowsky with his sons Adan and Brontis, and grandson Jeremias, with Flores, Taub, Ríos, Bodenhofer, and Peña. The cast once again proves that there is no cast like a cast of a Jodorowsky film.

Endless Poetry is an arresting spectacle that is swathed in surreal mythology dream logic and instant day-glo legend, resembling Fellini, Tod Browning, Emir Kusturica, and many more. Sometimes it's gloriously entertaining, but at a hundred and twenty eight minutes the loose surrealism occasionally grows tiresome. Taken on its own merits, it is a thunderously weird and wonderful movie, filled with scenes and images that won't leave you anytime soon. The film may suffer from some indulgences, but one can't really blame Jodorowsky for indulging after such a long absence. This is the work of someone coming to terms with their past, transmuting the traumas of childhood into the building blocks of adult awareness. The film is a surprisingly moving, emotionally satisfying experience, which twirls you round in a warm, confident embrace, making sure to toss in plenty of its director's signature madcap moves. It is a wild ride and unlikely to bring Jodorowsky to the mainstream, although it is more disciplined than any of his previous films. But it is rich, warm and wonderful, and certainly a fine entry point into his oeuvre. Do see this.

Simon says Endless Poetry (Poesía Sin Fin) receives:

Also, see my reviews for The Dance of Reality (La Danza de la Realidad) and Tokyo Story (東京物語).