Review: ‘El Topo:’ a Magnificent Experimental Treasure Despite its Alienation of Women


“El Topo” (translated to ‘The Mole’) is one of the most famous films from esteemed arthouse filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky. A 1970 experimental acid Western, the film centers around a man, ‘El Topo,’ who travels in all-black through the desert on his black horse with his naked young son who remains nameless. 

El Topo is played by Alejandro Jodorowsky himself, and the naked boy is played by his actual son. When El Topo comes across a town whose people have all been brutally slaughtered, he decides to hunt down the perpetrators; this leads him on a journey to defeat the four great gun masters and become the greatest gunman in the land. Each of these gunmen represent a philosophy from which El Topo must learn from before his duels. The viewer comes to realize that El Topo himself represents his own philosophy. The story is simple, but it’s symbolism throughout creates a work of art one can think about and discuss for “days, months, years.”  “El Topo” is self-aggrandizing and may be seen as a vanity project, but regardless it’s major impact on film history can not be ignored.

“El Topo” takes place in the wildest of wild wests. The location and time period are unconcerned, but this movie was shot in Mexico. It has the spaghetti Western look allowing it to fit into the genre perfectly. However, “El Topo” takes its visuals much more seriously than most Westerns. This is a film that plays with color; bright blue skies and fluorescent red blood are examples of the interesting use of color in the picture. The film puts its shots together expertly and thoughtfully. The prop and costume design also aids in the film’s extraordinary look.The wonderful framing, grandiose backgrounds, and unusual shot choices distract the viewer from the fact that the acting in the film is not expert. There isn’t much talking through the run-time though. The film realizes its ideas and plot points through fantastical visual means.

We must address the film’s rape scene. During original promotions for the film, Jodorowsky claimed that he had really raped the actor Mara Lorenzio on camera. He explains that the character is frigid until the rape, and  this is true for the actor in reality as well. In the present day, he claims this is not true—however, the damage still remains. Establishing rape as a woman’s saving perpetuates an ever-pervasive rape culture. It feeds into sayings like “She just needs a good f#@*.” 

A scene from “El Topo.” Photo: Producciones Panicas, 1970.

In real life, men rape women to “fix” their “bitchiness.” “El Topo” says that method works and is beneficial to both men and women. It frames the male sexual organ as a benevolent object that even when forcefully received is a positive experience for women. This is both a symptom of rape culture and art that will go on to perpetuate it. Problematic does not even begin to describe this scene and the artistic ideas that go along with it.

This is a movie of the 1970s. However, that is a reason for this terrible depiction of rape, not an excuse. Using such a frame for rape in art is extremely tone-deaf to the lives and experiences of half of the hypothetical audience. However, it is not half of the film’s actual audience because this is a film by men for men. Advertising real rape on the Silver Screen is not something that attracts female movie-goers. Choosing a specific audience is not inherently a bad thing. However, the consistent alienation of female audiences through normalization of violence against women, hurts women in real life. This is not a jab at Jodorowsky, alone. Many male filmmakers have operated and continue to operate in this way.

“El Topo” is a unique art film that offers so much to learn from. Unfortunately, its depiction of women makes it inaccessible to many cinephiles. Despite this, I do still recommend this high art film to all film lovers as it is absolutely magnificent. For those who can not watch rape scenes, it is pretty obvious when it is about to happen. El Topo and Mara are in the desert and he unlaces his pants. It occurs around the 40 minute mark and does not last long. If you fast forward through it, you can still enjoy this avant-garde film and I beseech you to do so.

*You can watch “El Topo” via streaming on iTunes, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime.