Frank Pavich uses his lengthy interview of filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky as the spine of his documentary, Jodorowsky’s Dune, to tell the story of the filmmaker’s attempt to secure Hollywood’s support in the making of his interpretation of Frank Herbert’s ultra-classic science fiction novel, Dune. Several other interested parties are interviewed for the film the most important of which is Michel Seydoux who was to be the film’s producer and who partnered with Jodorowsky in the film’s development and attempted sale.
Jodorowsky was 84 years old at the time of his interview.
There’s a missing credit in the film’s IMDB site: The Book. Jodorowsky produced a large book to help sell his film. It contains a complete shot list along with illustrations and drawings of many of the film’s elements: Costumes, landscapes, buildings, and space vehicles. Twenty copies were produced and distributed to major studios.
As a fan I was thoroughly delighted to see Jodorowsky so alert, articulate, alive, and as passionate about film as art as humanly possible. It is because of this vital human presence along with his harrowing story that I whole-heartedly encourage you to see this film.
I will make one qualification, though. The film’s Blu-ray version contains a special feature of deleted scenes—46 minutes of them. Most of that time is more of Jodorowsky’s interview. These minutes belong in the film. So, see the Blu-ray edition of this film.
I cannot overstate that you do not have to be a Jodorowsky fan to be moved by this film. You don’t even need to have ever heard of him. It is his lucid, passionate, human presence that is so inspiring.
http://jodorowskysdune.com/
