The iconic movie David Lynch thinks about every day of his life
Even within the highest echelon of pioneering auteurs, David Lynch has carved out a unique space for himself. Known for his fascinating interpretations of cinematic surrealism that are evident in works like Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive, Lynch has routinely re-defined the cinematic experience for countless fans all over the world. By subverting viewer expectations and experimenting with the medium itself, he has developed his own visual identity.
Although he has talked at length about the works of directors such as Stanley Kubrick and Federico Fellini, Lynch’s artistic background is very different from that of most filmmakers. Originally a student of painting who was deeply inspired by the wonderfully bizarre art of Francis Bacon, Lynch eventually transitioned into filmmaking. Right from his 1977 debut feature Eraserhead, it was undeniable that Lynch had a refreshingly dark vision.
The acclaimed American director has repeatedly insisted that he draws his inspiration from a wide variety of sources, including music, novels and other artistic mediums. However, there’s one cinematic masterpiece that continues to haunt him on a daily basis and informs a major part of his creative consciousness. That film is none other than The Wizard of Oz, the seminal 1939 fantasy film which changed the genre forever.
During a Q&A session at the New York Film Festival, Lynch said: “There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about The Wizard of Oz.” Widely regarded as one of the greatest cinematic achievements of the 20th century, it’s not surprising that Lynch praises the film so much since direct links can be drawn between his movies and the L. Frank Baum adaptation. Operating within the undecipherable landscape of dreams, The Wizard of Oz paved the way for future works of surrealism.
“The Wizard of Oz is a film with very great power,” Lynch once said while describing the movie’s greatness. “And it’s to be expected that it has stayed with us for the past several years and that we find its echoes in our films for such a long time after. The Wizard of Oz is like a dream, and it has immense emotional power. There’s a certain amount of fear in that picture, as well as things to dream about. So it seems truthful in some way.”
Lynch famously expressed his love for The Wizard of Oz in his 1990 crime drama Wild at Heart, inserting multiple references to one of his favourite movies in his own work. Due to the extensive impact that the 1939 film had on Lynch’s body of work, Alexandre O. Philippe decided to dedicate an entire documentary called Lynch/Oz to this creative connection.
Watch the trailer below.
