Product Description

Using only one page script and the memory of his stage production, director Alejandro Jodorowsky blended surreal beauty and savage imagery to fashion this bizarre tale of corrupted innocence, sadomasochistic love, and unattainable paradise. Fando and Lis premiered at the 1968 Acapulco Film Festival, inciting a riot that forced the director to flee for his life. In the ensuing scandal, the film was banned. Jodorowsky was branded a heretic, forced ot stand trial and nearly deported. Considered lost for over 30 years, Fantoma is proud to present the director's cut of Fando and Lis, the visionary first film from the creator of such cult classic as El Too, Holy Mountain, and Santa Sangre.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #110608 in DVD
• Released on: 1999-08-24
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
• Formats: Black & White, DVD, Letterboxed, NTSC
• Original language: French
• Subtitled in: English
• Dubbed in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 93 minutes

Customer Reviews

Whimsical and spooky
Ever since I first heard about Alejandro Jodorowsky's "El Topo," I wanted to see it. Supposedly on the surface a spaghetti western, but so much more underneath, the movie sounded delightfully bizarre in a way I often enjoy. Well, I have not gotten a chance to see this movie yet since it has not come out on DVD. When I saw the opportunity to watch "Fando and Lis," an earlier film from the same director, I grabbed the chance figuring that something was better than nothing. I was wrong. While "Fando and Lis" does contain some interesting scenes, this Jodorowsky picture dwells deep in the land of surrealism. Nonsensical films do not usually bother me as long as there is some sort of touchstone to hang your hat on. A director can take his project completely over the top as long as a plot exists somewhere under the madness. This is the central problem of "Fando and Lis." The film, a totally improvised production based on memory and a one-page synopsis of a play written by Francisco Arrabal, never makes a bit of sense. It's theater of the absurd time here, folks, so prepare for the ultimate in weirdness. Fortunately, the disc also contains "Constellation Jodorowsky," a documentary about the filmmaker and artist that follows a more traditional approach to storytelling.

"Fando and Lis" tells the story of, predictably, Fando (Sergio Kleiner) and his main squeeze Lis (Diana Mariscal) in glorious black and white photography. The two live in a post-apocalyptic world, in an environment of desert climes and shattered cities. Earth as we know it is gone, so Fando and Lis begin a quest for the mythical city of Tar, a city that seems to promise hope and regeneration for the weary couple. The only possessions they have appear to be a drum, a phonograph, and a wooden cart in which Lis serenely rides. She cannot walk, for some reason, so her man pushes her around wherever they go. The two are a temperamental pair, with Fando often tiring of dealing with Lis's constant complaints. All of this information is the only thing we know for sure about the movie. You see, "Fando and Lis" soon embarks on a bizarre odyssey of disjointed scenes, sparse scenery, and downright odd secondary characters. Never before has such an incoherent movie found its way to my DVD player. And you thought Luis Bunuel or Salvador Dali were weird. Until you check out Jodorowsky, you ain't seen nothing yet. This movie would give Sigmund Freud a nervous breakdown.

I can offer no ample explanations for the unfolding silliness. Scenes and situations include a piano on fire collapsing and then reconstituting itself only to collapse again, a bunch of people rolling about in the mud while a religious figure cackles madly in the background, and a bunch of old ladies sitting around a table eating something that looks like eggs while a guy in a diaper lurches around in the background. You get more, such as a blindfolded Fando led around by women, a scene in which some strange guy drains blood from Lis's arm into a wine glass, and a funeral scene where Fando's mother lies down in her grave. Are you still here? Good, because I have not described my favorite scene yet. It's just as unfathomable as any other situation in the film, but it's so ridiculous that it bears mentioning. At one point, Fando stumbles over a bunch of Amazonian type women who chase him around a craggy hill while knocking him down with bowling balls. Yep, you heard right-bowling balls. Just when Fando thinks he has escaped these wacky women, another bowling ball comes crashing down a hill and fells our hero like he's a pin. Jodorowsky missed out on really giving the scene meaning by failing to shod these gals with bowling shoes. As for the music score, you have to listen to it yourself to believe how peculiar it is.

What could this madness possibly imply? Good luck figuring it all out. As far as I can tell, the film means whatever you want it to mean. I would not worry too much about extracting a coherent theme from "Fando and Lis" unless you want to end up in a rubber room for a few years. What really threw me for a loop was how much I enjoyed specific parts of the movie. I usually despise films this whimsical, but Jodorowsky's vision occasionally possessed a certain charm that made the whole thing worthwhile. That scene with the paint was interesting, as was the couple posing over tombstones. Yet, I would never attempt to recommend the movie to anyone else. It's way too abnormal for you to take my word that you should possibly watch the picture. You have to decide yourself whether to dive in to Jodorowsky's film

"Constellation Jodorowsky" is a bit easier on the eyes and ears. The documentary runs nearly as long as "Fando and Lis." Consisting of lengthy interviews with the director about such diverse subjects as life, philosophy, and theology, "Constellation" shows us what the filmmaker does with his time nowadays. Apparently, he teaches some course at a university where he tosses off lots of new age aphorisms to a docile audience. These scenes run far too long and take away from the more interesting segments, namely the discussion about Frank Herbert's "Dune." Incredibly, Jodorowsky nearly directed the film adaptation of the book, going so far as to hire an artist to draw storyboards. His plans for "Dune" looked fabulous; it's too bad the project went to David Lynch. Only purveyors of atypical cinema should check out this disc. For me, I am still waiting for "El Topo" to come out on DVD.

Jodorowsky's Lost Film Recovered
Fans of the hyperbolic director Alejandro Jodorowsky ("El Topo") should love this episodic psychodrama loosely based on an absurdist play by Fernando Arrabal. Though obviously a first feature with uneven pacing and often washed out over-exposed scenes, the film makes up for its deficits with an abundance of surprising images. Set in a devastated appocalyptic landscape, we follow a young sadomasochistic couple on their desperate search for a magical city named "Tar." The girl, Lis, is paralyzed and must be pushed around on a rickety cart by Fando. As in "El Topo" a parade of emblematic characters appear out of nowhere to taunt and teach them. Many of these scenes have a wierd sense of humor as when bowling balls are used as weapons, or Fando's mother force feeds him hard boiled eggs. Some of these visions appear more fully formed in Jodorowsky's later films as when a live bird is pulled from the chest of Fando's father. It is difficult to watch the misogynist brutal torture of Lis which intensifies toward the end of the film, but Jodorowsky's intention is never to make the viewer comfortable. Like the mute girl in "Sante Sangre," Lis portrays a certain male fantasy of the pure woman as one who accepts torment with acceptance and forgiveness. The film was shot by Raphael Cokidi who went on to shoot Jodorowsky's next two works and to direct allegorical films himself. The feature length documentory "Jodorowsky Constellation" is an added bonus and portrays the director's current life in France. There are some nice excerpts from "El Topo" and "The Holy Mountain" but curiously none from the later "Sante Sangre." Also interviewed are Marcel Marceau, Fernando Arrabal and Peter Gabriel though they are not indentified by subtitles. Unfortunately the long "therapy" session at the end lessens the impact of this otherwise competent profile. The package is well put together and includes a picture brochure from the orginal showing of "Fando and Lis."

A superb DVD transfer of Jodorowsky's first feature film
This is the first feature film from Chilean avant-garde filmmaker Alexandro Jodorowsky, which caused riots on its premiere in Acapulco in 1968. It's a strange tale of a man and woman, who wander around a barren landscape searching for the mystical city of Tar. And also to seek enlightenment from an assortment of strange characters. It's not for everyone, but if you like your movies out there in the extremes of surrealism and symbolism, this one is for you. The DVD also includes a interesting documentary where Jodorowsky is interviewed, and we learn of his philosophy and opinions, which are always fascinating. A must own DVD for fans of avant-garde cinema.