EL TOPO

Year: 1970
UK: Tartan Films
Cast: Alejandro Jodorowsky, Brontis Jodorowsky, Jose Legarreta, Alfonso Arau, Jose Luis Fernandez, Alf Junco, Gerardo Cepeda, Rene Barrera, Rene Alis, Federico Gonzales, Pablo Leder, Giuliano Girini Sasseroli, Cristian Merkel, Aldo Grumelli, Mara Lorenzio, David Silva, Ignacio Martinez Espana, Eliseo Gardea Saucedo, Hector Martinez, Paula Romo, Bertha Lomeli, Juan Jose Gurrola, Victor Fosado, Agustin Isunza
Director: Alejandro Jodorowsky
Country: Mexico
Language: Spanish (English subtitles)
UK: 125 mins
UK Certificate: 18 contains strong bloody violence
UK Release Date: 13 April 2007 (Limited Re-release - wider)
UK Release Date: 6 April 2007 (Limited Re-release - London, BFI)

Synopsis

EL TOPO is a bizarre, ultra-violent, allegorical Western set in two halves. In the first half, El Topo (Alejandro Jodorowsky) accompanied by his naked son is a violent gunfighter whose mission is to confront four renowned gunfighters. Before each one dies he learns something of importance. In the second half El Topo's travels find him looking for personal redemption learning the ways of peace.

Re-released on a newly restored print, EL TOPO became a cult film and initiated the whole Midnight Movie phenomena of the counterculture-crazy 1970s.