Movies

David Lynch has emphysema that limits his directing: He must ‘do it remotely,’ if at all

BBG News

As a long-time admirer of David Lynch’s surrealistic masterpieces, hearing about his health struggles due to emphysema is truly disheartening. His indelible mark on cinema, from “Twin Peaks” to “Eraserhead,” has been a source of endless fascination and inspiration for me.

Known for his distinctive work as a screenwriter and filmmaker, including the enigmatic series “Twin Peaks” and “Eraserhead,” David Lynch, has recently received an emphysema diagnosis. He’s shared that this condition has adversely affected his capacity to direct.

In a recent interview, the 78-year-old filmmaker, artist, and musician shared that he developed emphysema due to his lifelong smoking habit. He expressed in an article for Sight and Sound magazine that this condition has left him with no choice but to stay at home.

“It would be very bad for me to get sick,” Lynch told the magazine, according to the Independent.

David Lynch gained widespread recognition towards the end of the 1980s and beginning of the ’90s through his notable works like the hit TV show “Twin Peaks”, movies such as “Blue Velvet” and “Mulholland Drive”. However, more recently, he has shifted his focus to smaller-scale projects. These include music videos, his regular weather updates, and the Netflix short film “What Did Jack Do?”, with this shift becoming more pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2019, the director who was awarded an honorary Oscar expressed concern for his health due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19, which primarily affects the lungs. It’s been almost two decades since his last feature film (“Inland Empire” in 2006), and now, his health status plays a significant role in deciding whether he embarks on a new project and how he approaches it.

“I would do it remotely if it comes to it,” he said. “I wouldn’t like that so much.”

Emphysema refers to a respiratory disorder that often leads to breathlessness, primarily due to prolonged contact with airborne irritants such as cigarette smoke. As per the Mayo Clinic, those suffering from emphysema might also face heart complications, pneumothorax (collapsed lung), and expansions or cavities called “bullae” within their lungs.

As a dedicated cinephile, I can’t help but acknowledge the remarkable work of David Lynch. His films like “The Elephant Man” from 1980, the controversial adaptation of Frank Herbert’s science fiction masterpiece “Dune” in 1984, and the captivating revival of “Twin Peaks: The Return” on Showtime in 2017, all bear his unique signature. Kyle MacLachlan was among the stars gracing this latter series, which was a joint creation with Mark Frost.

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2024-08-05 21:01

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