On El Topo

This particular scene, while it may not fairly characterize El Topo in it’s entirety, provides a great depiction of the backwards and bizarre nature of the townspeople and their “faith.”  The scene portrays a cult-like religious ceremony.  A procession in which the participants are surrounded by the “all seeing eye,” as they falsely believe that they are witnessing “miracles.” 

 

The preacher/cult leader hands the followers a six-shooter revolver for a game of Russian roulette, while they eerily chant “God will protect us.”  What these false believers don’t realize is that – while they pass the gun from person to person, holding it to their heads and pulling the trigger – the pistol is loaded with a blank.  So, the “miracle” of them not shooting themselves is nothing but a fraud, a phony scheme used to keep the townspeople believing in the sham.  Later, the blank is replaced with a real, fire-ready bullet.  Again, the revolver’s passed between members of the congregation.  This time, though, it ends up being anything but miraculous. It turns to tragedy as a child grabs hold the gun and it fires – a horrific, gory, unexpected scene.  After this incident, the “church” is through.  No longer will members want to return and blindly follow their phony leader. 

Not only does this scene represent the perplexing nature of El Topo, it seems to mockingly reflect society and its religious structure/institutions.  The townspeople, engaging in all sorts of immoral activities, still hold the belief that they, above others, will be protected by their faith.