Jodorowsky’s Dune is the 2013 documentary directed by Frank Pavich recounting the story of cult director Alejandro Jodorowsky’s failed quest to create a film based on the hit 1965 sci-fi novel Dune by Frank Herbert in the mid-70s.
The film is a collection of narratives and retellings, comprised mainly of Jodorowsky, as well as his son Brontis, who was slated to act in it as a child; H.R. Giger, who worked on designs alongside Moebius and Dan O’Bannon; the producer Jean-Paul Gibon, among a few others. Jodorowsky is the main storyteller here, and weaves a very whimsical tale, starting it off with an explanation on how he wanted to create a massive, psychedelic opus and travel where none had gone before. He sought to build a team of “spiritual warriors”, or, the team who would help him with his creation. Jodorowsky casually tells stories of convincing Giger, Moebius, O’Bannon, as well as Mick Jagger, Orson Welles, and–shockingly–Salvador Dali, to join him.
The film only ever became a long, fleshed-out storyboard, created by Moebius and written by Jodorowsky, put into a massive, heavy book. Many of the images were carefully rendered into colorful animations, showing an accurate simulation of the film, the only ones in existence, might I add. Jodorowsky’s wildly enigmatic and eccentric descriptions of his artistic process and collaborations with his “warriors” (as he affectionately called them) make the film very enjoyable, and hard to look away from. It does a good job of keeping the viewer excited and interested.
The film ends with a brief explanation on how no studio wanted to put on Dune because it was too deep and complex, and also how Jodorowsky was too difficult to work with. Jodorowsky gives a vague explanation on how the film should be put on again after he’s dead, and with the direction of the storybook. He illustrates the influence of Dune on future films. Then he says some inspirational things about having big ambitions and wanting to live for 300 years. Then the film ends.
I was satisfied with the film as a story and a visual work, but I felt a bit unfulfilled. The story was biased and one-sided, and a little too idealistic and fairy tale-seeming. There was little basis of reality to it, and was completely romanticized. I wondered what problems and complications arose during the creation between the team, and within themselves, singularly. I also wondered what other effects it had on everyone. I wish there’d been more of a focus on the reality of the situation, which only briefly came in at the end. In this way, it didn’t feel like a good documentary. It was fun to watch, and, again, a great visual piece and story, but it was missing that one piece.
That being said, I have no regrets. It satisfied me more as a viewer than a scholar, and I would definitely recommend it to all.