**Alejandro Jodorowsky** (born in Tocopilla, Chile, 1929) is a Chilean-French multifaceted artist and filmmaker, known for his avant-garde and surreal cinema. His filmmaking career is marked by visionary works that defy conventions.

Films like **Fando y Lis** (1968) introduced his audacious style, but it was with **El Topo** (1970) and **The Holy Mountain** (1973) that he achieved iconic "midnight movie" status. These films are characterized by intense mystical symbolism, psychedelic imagery, and non-linear narration, often imbued with violence and esoteric spirituality.

After a hiatus of over a decade, he returned with **Santa Sangre** (1989), an acclaimed surrealist horror film. In subsequent years, he explored autobiographical themes with **The Dance of Reality** (2013) and **Endless Poetry** (2016), solidifying his reputation as a unique and unclassifiable auteur who continues to influence independent cinema.