Fando and Lis (1968)
"Fando y Lis" (original title)

Fando and his partially paralyzed lover Lis search for the mythical city of Tar. Based on Jodorowsky's memories of a play by surrealist Fernando Arrabal.

Director:

Alejandro Jodorowsky

Writers:

Fernando Arrabal (play), Alejandro Jodorowsky (adaptation),

Stars:

Sergio Kleiner, Diana Mariscal, María Teresa Rivas

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sergio Kleiner	...	Fando (as Sergio Klainer)
Diana Mariscal	...	Lis
María Teresa Rivas	...	Fando's Mother
Tamara Garina	...	Pope
Juan José Arreola	...	Well-Dressed Man with Book (as Juan Jose Arreola)
Rene Rebetez
Amparo Villegas
Miguel Álvarez Acosta	...	(as Lic. Miguel Alvarez Acosta)
Raul Romero
Julio Castillo
Adrián Ramos
Henry West
Luis Urias
Valerie Jodorowsky	...	Junkyard Temptress / Woman with Leg Brace (as Valerie-Jean)
Graciela R. de Mariscal	...	Entertained Woman

Storyline

Fando and his partially paralyzed lover Lis search for the mythical city of Tar. Based on Jodorowsky's memories of a play by surrealist Fernando Arrabal.

---

Plot Keywords:

blood drinking | eating flower | experimental film | symbolism | cruelty | 

---

Taglines:

See this film before it sees you.

---

Genres:

Adventure | Fantasy

---

Details

Country:

Mexico

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

8 June 1972 (Mexico)

Also Known As:

Fando and Lis

Filming Locations:

Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

$100,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Producciones Panicas

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When the film premiered at the 1968 Acapulco Film Festival, the first screening erupted into a riot. Director Alejandro Jodorowsky had to leave the theatre by sneaking outside to a waiting limousine. When the crowd outside the theatre recognized him, the car was pelted with rocks. The following week, the film opened to sell-out crowds in Mexico City, but fights broke out in the audiences and the film was banned by the Mexican government. Jodorowsky himself was nearly deported and the scandal provided a lot of fodder for the Mexican newspapers.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: Once upon a time... a long, long time ago... there was a mystical city, Tar. And at that time all the cities were intact and flourishing, because the final war had not yet begun. When the great catastrophe occurred, all the cities crumbled... except Tar. Tar still exists. If you know where to look for it, you will find it. And when you get there you will be presented with wine and water and play with a gramophone. When you get there, you will help harvest grapes and you will pick ...

---

Connections

Featured in La constellation Jodorowsky (1994)

User Reviews

A duo's surreal and mystical search for enlightenment

Shot using only a one page script and Jodorowsky's memory of the stageplay, Fando & Lis is a tale of the two people in the title, a man, Fando, and his disabled female partner, Lis, who can't walk but does stand up on one occasion. They set off together to search for the mystical city of Tar, with Lis most of time being on a four-wheel cart along with a gramophone and a drum, and Fando pushing her. He also carries her as well. This reminded me of the man and woman in Jean Luc Godard's Week-End from the same year. On their escapade they encounter some strange characters like the mud people and a man playing a burning piano. There is all the usual Jodorowsky elements with surreal and obscure symbolism and for ninety-six minutes all rational thought is disbanded. It is in Jodorowsky's words, "a pure piece of art without any concession". It is provoking and leads to a savage conclusion, but it is not as accomplished as Jodorowsky's later work.