The Dance of Reality

Name: The Dance of Reality
Genre: Biography, Drama, Fantasy
Released: May 23, 2014
Duration: 130 min
Rating: 76

2014

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 21 Critics

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 14 Ratings

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5.9

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5.9	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 14 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Not Rated

ABKCO Films | Release Date: May 23, 2014

Summary: After a 23-year hiatus, The Dance of Reality marks the triumphant return of Alejandro Jodorowsky, the visionary Chilean filmmaker behind cult classics El Topo and The Holy Mountain. In the radiantly visceral autobiographical film, a young Jodorowsky is confronted by a collection of compelling characters that contributed to his burgeoningAfter a 23-year hiatus, The Dance of Reality marks the triumphant return of Alejandro Jodorowsky, the visionary Chilean filmmaker behind cult classics El Topo and The Holy Mountain. In the radiantly visceral autobiographical film, a young Jodorowsky is confronted by a collection of compelling characters that contributed to his burgeoning surreal consciousness. The legendary filmmaker was born in 1929 in Tocopilla, a coastal town on the edge of the Chilean desert, where the film was shot. Blending his personal history with metaphor, mythology, and poetry, The Dance of Reality reflects Jodorowsky’s philosophy that reality is not objective but rather a “dance” created by our own imaginations.… Expand

Director: Alejandro Jodorowsky

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, Fantasy

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 130 min

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Awards & Rankings

96	#96 Best Movie of 2014

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

100

RogerEbert.com - Peter Sobczynski

May 23, 2014

The result will no doubt polarize viewers, as has been the case with his other major works, but it will certainly go down amongst those who see it as one of the most unforgettable films of this or any other year in recent memory. Read full review

The A.V. Club - Ignatiy Vishnevetsky

May 21, 2014

As a close look at Jodorowsky’s work reveals, the line between “cult artist” and “cult leader” can be blurry. The line only gets blurrier with The Dance Of Reality, Jodorowsky’s first movie in 23 years, and the best thing he’s done, film-wise, since "The Holy Mountain." Read full review

Boston Globe - Peter Keough

May 29, 2014

Compared to his previous films, The Dance of Reality offers a nearly coherent narrative and a gentle, reconciliatory tone. Read full review

Philadelphia Inquirer - Tirdad Derakhshani

May 30, 2014

The 85-year-old Chilean-born auteur returns this week with his latest directorial attempt, The Dance of Reality, an intensely personal, deeply felt, if at times solipsistic autobiographical work about his childhood in Tocopilla, a seaside town at the edge of the Chilean desert. Read full review

Los Angeles Times - Robert Abele

May 22, 2014

At times exquisitely attuned to the commingling of the bitterly funny and tragic, and at other times an eye-roll-worthy collection of ready-made fetish videos (Flores is one brave avatar of outré sexuality), The Dance of Reality is nonetheless proof that the legendary provocateur is still a font of out-there invention. Read full review

Variety - Scott Foundas

Feb 5, 2014

At more than two hours, The Dance of Reality unquestionably has its longueurs, but on balance it is alive with enough images and ideas for several movies — as if Jodorowsky were afraid he might have to wait 20 more years before making another. Read full review

Slant Magazine - Clayton Dillard

May 19, 2014

Alejandro Jodorowsky never manages to transcend the sense that he's indulging himself and participating in a hollow introspection unworthy of his prior cinema. Read full review

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User Reviews

NyxFears

Jun 8, 2014

The man is an incredible filmmaker through and through. I wouldn't say the film is flawless but I feel like Jodorowsky exploits the films flaws to a whimsical amount. It's a fantastic and very personal film from a teacher. Jodorowsky remains the most ballsy filmmaker working not only becauseThe man is an incredible filmmaker through and through. I wouldn't say the film is flawless but I feel like Jodorowsky exploits the films flaws to a whimsical amount. It's a fantastic and very personal film from a teacher. Jodorowsky remains the most ballsy filmmaker working not only because of his style but also for his powerful statements about religious and societal conditioning.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

LowbrowCinema

Jun 1, 2014

Alejandro Jodorowsky is back! Could there be a better time? Cinema needs daring filmmakers like this who ground the truly absurd in reality. Like EL TOPO and HOLY MOUNTAIN, THE DANCE OF REALITY is far from perfect. The film is at least 30 minutes too long with sequences that come out of leftAlejandro Jodorowsky is back! Could there be a better time? Cinema needs daring filmmakers like this who ground the truly absurd in reality. Like EL TOPO and HOLY MOUNTAIN, THE DANCE OF REALITY is far from perfect. The film is at least 30 minutes too long with sequences that come out of left field with no impact. But the central statement, an examination of dogma--religious, social, and political--the easy bending of our minds that impact us all, is an important topic to explore and Jodorowsky does it winningly. Yes, the message is clear and loud. We are hit on the head with it. Maybe sometimes we need to be hit?… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Giappoman

Aug 26, 2018

This is the movie that gave me the biggest second hand embarassment of my entire life. I've seen amateur works realized much better. Seriously.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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