Movies

We’re Lucky to Have Been Alive in the Age of David Lynch

BBG News

As legend tells us, David Lynch, a renowned figure in cinema, had peculiar preferences: cigarettes, coffee, and candies. These were said to be his sources of energy, fueling the strange, cosmic thoughts that he translated into the captivating visuals we cherish on screen. However, while these items might have sustained him, they are not necessarily beneficial in excess, especially cigarettes which can be deadly. In fact, Lynch himself struggled with quitting cigarettes and was diagnosed with emphysema in 2020, using his experience as a warning to others. Nevertheless, his affection for these everyday items became part of his legend. They are remnants of his unique, eccentric spirit, much like tools left behind at an artisan’s workbench after they’ve passed away. No one perceived or created content as Lynch did; no one made films or TV shows quite like him. Despite inspiring many filmmakers and TV creators, Lynch remained one-of-a-kind, a testament to his extraordinary genius. Coined as “Lynchian,” he was so unique that his last name became the foundation for a descriptive adjective. Yet, no one could ever truly emulate David Lynch; he was inimitable.

Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, if you were in high school or college, chances are you’d heard about David Lynch’s chilling, captivating black-and-white film debut Eraserhead, even if you hadn’t actually watched it. There was a woman with peculiar, balloon-like, cauliflower-shaped cheeks dwelling in a radiator? And a grotesque, pus-leaking baby? When the name Eraserhead came up, you either felt compelled to watch it immediately or hesitated, questioning if you were prepared for such a disturbing experience (that was me—though I eventually rectified my initial hesitation).

David Lynch’s movies were captivating in a peculiar way: they could be slightly unnerving at first, but once you surrendered to their bewitchment, enchantment, and uncanny nature, you found yourself craving more. They managed to make the unusual feel commonplace and the ordinary seem bizarre. To this day, whenever I see steam rising from a grate, Lynch is the first person who comes to mind. Born in 1946 in Missoula, Montana, Lynch initially aspired to be a painter; he honed his craft at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia, where he created his first short film in 1967. Shortly afterward, he and his family relocated to Los Angeles, where he attended the AFI Conservatory. It was here that Lynch conceived and produced the movie Eraserhead. So impressed was Mel Brooks with this film that he hired Lynch to direct a movie he was overseeing, titled The Elephant Man (1980), which was set in Victorian London and based on the life of Joseph Merrick, a man afflicted by a rare genetic disorder causing abnormal growths on his body. The Elephant Man, despite being one of Lynch’s most straightforward and heartwarming films, still carried the unique melancholic joy characteristic of its creator.

David Lynch’s next endeavor was an unsuccessful attempt at adapting Frank Herbert’s novel, Dune, which later gained cult status: Lynch’s lesser works and productions frequently display more creativity than other directors’ peak performances. In 1990, he revolutionized our perception of television with a series drenched in authentic peculiarity: In Twin Peaks, Kyle MacLachlan played Agent Dale Cooper, a detective who uncovered—you guessed it—darkness lurking within the quaint, forested town in the Pacific Northwest as he probed the murder of high school student Laura Palmer. Lynch revisited this narrative in 2017 with Twin Peaks: The Return, a continuation set 25 years after the original series’ events. Between these milestones, there were countless films and side projects—from the darkly comic romance Wild at Heart (1990), to the glistening, noirish Lost Highway (1997), to a Yves Saint Laurent Opium perfume commercial in 1992, to a chilling public service announcement about rats for the New York City Department of Sanitation in 1991—that it would be impossible to fully appreciate them all here.

It could be challenging to limit David Lynch’s most remarkable films to just two. Leaving out masterpieces like the hauntingly beautiful “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me” (1992) or the heartwarming “The Straight Story” (1999), a film based on a true story about an elderly man driving a tractor to see his dying brother, seems impossible. However, for those unacquainted with the time, it’s tough to express the impact of the release of “Blue Velvet” (1986). Kyle MacLachlan plays Jeffrey Beaumont, a small-town innocent who stumbles upon a severed ear in a field and becomes obsessed with unraveling the mystery. This leads him to encounter nightclub singer Dorothy Vallens (Isabella Rossellini, portraying a night-blooming flower) who is embroiled in a dark relationship with the depraved gangster Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper). “Blue Velvet” was disturbing, twisted, and unsettling – yet it was also so captivating that it left viewers feeling somewhat intoxicated, as if their minds had been mysteriously reconfigured in a peculiar and enduring way.

Due to its complex nature, it’s possible we should have anticipated the enigmatic 2001 film “Mulholland Dr.” by David Lynch – but I, for one, wasn’t prepared. The story revolves around two aspiring actresses, portrayed by Naomi Watts and Laura Harring, set in a vibrant Hollywood that appears to be thriving (with Ann Miller making an appearance, as lively as ever, in red silk nightwear and curly hairstyle). However, the narrative takes a dark turn, transforming this sun-kissed city into a dismal, shadowy version of itself. It seems each character harbors a hidden, glittering secret; one suffers from amnesia, unaware even of her own secrets. The film’s plot is intricate and puzzling, reminiscent of an unsolvable puzzle box. Its rhythm is slow and sensual, yet it feels over before you’re ready for it to end. Is “Mulholland Dr.” anti-Hollywood or pro? It certainly criticizes the town’s greed and deceit. Yet, Lynch also seems fascinated by its legends – the allure of Spanish-style mansions, the belief that a small-town girl can become a star at a lunch counter – and finds himself unable to let go of this enchantment. Hollywood embodies multiple realities, and “Mulholland Dr.” is the film that best encapsulates this multidimensionality.

Lynch’s essence revolved around embracing optimistic, small-town American ideals, yet he wasn’t afraid to delve deep into the complexities of the American psyche. He wholeheartedly endorsed American values such as compassion, ambition, and a readiness to aid others in need. Though often labeled apolitical, his political leanings were never straightforward. When The Straight Story was released, there were whispers that he might be a Republican. However, during an interview with The Guardian in 2018, he hinted at the possibility that Donald Trump could go down as one of history’s greatest presidents, suggesting that Trump had disrupted the system in a way that could be interpreted as either praise or criticism. Looking back now, it’s hard to deny Trump’s strong influence, even on individuals who should have been immune to such an impact.

Instead of labeling Lynch as having a particular political stance, it’s more beneficial to view him as a classic American director: He was aware of everything we do and contemplate, the atrocities we inflict on the world that we can’t justify, the dark truths we try to conceal even from ourselves. Yet, he also appreciated the beauty and happiness in nature, like trees rustling, birds singing, the deepest blue skies, the most vibrant roses, and the purest white picket fences. Towards the end of Blue Velvet, Kyle MacLachlan’s character Jeffrey and Laura Dern’s Sandy are awestruck by a robin with a bug in its beak: “Isn’t it a peculiar world?” Sandy says, smiling contentedly, accepting all of it. After all, what other choice is there?

As a film enthusiast, I can’t help but reflect on the extraordinary times we find ourselves in, where truth and fiction often blur. Yet, amidst the chaos and confusion, there’s one aspect that keeps me grounded – our shared cultural legacy, particularly the indelible impact of a visionary artist who transcended the boundaries of pop-culture. I’m referring to none other than David Lynch, the mastermind who consistently pushed the envelope, delivering off-the-wall absurdity to our TV screens and weaving dreams and nightmares so vividly on our movie screens that they lingered long after the credits rolled. It’s a privilege to be alive during his era, to have been part of the audience captivated by his unique genius.

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2025-01-17 04:06

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