The use of color is extremely important to the overall mise en scene of the The Holy Mountain. It is used for a wide variety of reasons, many of which create different effects, ideas, or a blurring synchronization of both.

In sets

The sets in this film are the first visual assault in this film. The opening sequence references the symbolic and ritualistic aspect of the movie. In the tower sequences, each room is laid out with a specific plan and idea, each being completely different from the other in addition to serving a unique purpose. The main chamber from the hook “tunnel” is painted as a rainbow, which could be inferred as a transformation between mortality and immortality. In the Tower (where a large majority of the film takes place) the characters undergo a great inner change. The colors are used to express this idea. This stands in stark contrast to the outside world, which is much more raw and realistic.

In Blood

One of the most striking images of the film is the use of colored blood. This incorporation of what is thought of as unrealistic blood color seems to show the dehumanization of the act of death and dieing. "We are working on a drug that gives humans illusions of grandeur", is said as people throw themselves into knives, exploding with yellow paint from their wounds. The image of people being shot, stabbed, mortally wounded etc. is very common in the film but their blood is never once natural looking. This visual choice devalues human death and makes it seem less important than it really is.  In a way this could be interpreted as trying to show how meaningless human life is in the grand scheme of things. One contrast to this pattern is the notable conquest of Mexico scene which displays red blood as the pyramid explodes. It should also be noted that this scene occurs very early in the film, before much of the fake blood is seen for the first time. One possible allusion for this cunning maneuver could be the blood of conglomerated cultures who have had their teachings and meanings devalued throughout mankind's quest for "enlightenment," which would also tie in to the devaluation of spiritual meaning by the juxtaposition of a dollar sign, which is referenced slightly after this scene. 

In Costumes

The costumes are influenced by all periods of time, including the future in many cases. The characters undergo a transformation where they strip off their clothes (of many colors and styles mind you) and shave their heads to become a cohesive group. Once this transformation has taken place, it can be very difficult to tell one character from another. This is an important aspect to the “losing ones identity” aspect of the film.

Not Wheat, but White

The color white is also an important reference to transformation, especially with its stark contrast to black at specific points in the film. For example, when The Thief first encounters The Alchemist after his ascent  The Alchemist is completely draped in black, as opposed to when The Thief actually expresses the desire to be transformed (several minutes later) and The Alchemist is depicted in white. One possible interpretation could concern the state of mind The Thief was tending when he wandered into the tower as compared to when he learned it was possible to "change himself into gold." 

White is traditionally used throughout various cultures to portray purity and truth, which the travelers are seeking throughout the course of this film. Though the concept of "white," at least as far as this film is concerned, does adhere to that very broad definition, it also represents many other important aspects of various spiritual practices. Many of the rooms in the tower are white or mostly white. Also, the alchemist transitions between wearing identical robes of black and white (as mentioned above). When he is wearing black he seems to represent the mindset of the uninitiated, a mass conglomeration of chaotic confusion. The moments when he dawns his white usually coincide with the crossing of some spiritual barrier or the overcoming of some physical obstacle.

Another example of the use of costumes in this film is the use of costume changes in the Venus scene. Fon, the leader of the mattress, cosmetics and comfort empire marries his workers and has several dozen of them. "They start as factory workers, and then I make them my secretary." When this happens they are stripped of their normal light blue working outfits and dawn short orange dresses. The color choices were made because they are visually interesting when seen in mass because they are complementary colors. When looking over the entire factory the bustling works stand out from the pregnant wives, all trying to get as much attention from their lover as possible.

Work Cited

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071615/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holy_Mountain_(1973_film)

http://www.mondo-digital.com/fando.html

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/holy_mountain/