David Lynch's films are like an alternative textbook, always low at the box office and winning few awards. But they have inspired countless directors and audiences and even deeply influenced some fashion designers.
His film style is gloomy and weird, violent, and abnormal, naive and dreamlike, and has a sense of comedy. Such a combination of contradictions always makes me cry and laugh.
There are many analyses of his movies, but few people dare to say they understand them. This year, David Lynch is 77 years old, but instead of making movies, he broadcasts the weather on YouTube. If you also think he is a little weird, why not follow me and use a magnifying glass to decipher David Lynch?
He is a film genius by mistake
David Lynch, who shares a birthday with film legend Fellini, didn't get to know films until he was 21. While studying at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, one day, Lynch was painting. Suddenly, he seemed to hear a gust of wind from the painting. The painting in front of him was flowing. He suddenly realized that this was what he wanted to do.
● When he was a student, Lynch spent $200 on his first experimental animated short film, "Six Figures Getting Sick," with a 16mm camera.
His contemporary directors, such as Coppola and Scorsese, are movie buffs and very familiar with film knowledge. However, Lynch entered the industry by mistake, made several short films first, and then systematically studied film production.
But because of this, he jumped out of the stereotyped modes and types, seamlessly combined seemingly unrelated elements, and created a Lynch universe that audiences at the time had never seen before.
Sunny Boy's Dark Hobby
● Lynch's childhood painting
Almost all of Lynch's early films hide violence, absurdity, and perverted lust under the pastoral life, which makes people wonder if he has any childhood trauma. But in fact, Lynch had a wonderful childhood and a harmonious family relationship.
But Lynch's parents did not know the other side of this sunny boy. He once made some bad friends and secretly fell in love. He always came home late to practice painting such works: as animal corpses, rotten fruit, and rusty iron.
● Lynch's short film "Rabbits" in 2002
In this way, Lynch split into a strange inner world and carefully maintained it, and these elements that could not be integrated into reality could all be contained in his films.
Do you like such a weirdo?
When he was in college, Lynch often lingered in a nearby morgue. He wanted to know the story behind each corpse. He never shied away from showing weirdness, decay, and death. It is a tenderness that transcends fear and disgust and treats all things equally.
● Lynch's painting in 2018
In Lynch's world, peace and fear, happiness and sorrow, good and evil, life and death, beauty and ugliness all exist equally, and there is no difference between them. Of course, Lynch also has something to fear, it is going to school.
Mr. Dream Maker
● Lynch in his studio
● It is recommended to watch the DAVID LYNCH THEATER channel
Turning on Lynch's YouTube channel, his daily hobby is unexpectedly making handicrafts. This passion was fully shown when he made his first feature film "Eraserhead." The planet behind the character, the branch protruding from the bed, and the chicken on the dining table, almost every scene has props made by him.
During that time, Lynch often slept on the set, the hero's room became his room, and his dreams and reality fully merged.
● The room in "Eraserhead"
● The room in "Blue Velvet"
● The room in "Twin Peaks"
Lynch dreams a lot, and sometimes he can control his dreams, and other times he only sits there and waits for them to take him somewhere he has not been before. For this reason, he went to the hospital, but the doctor told him that the treatment would affect his creativity, so he gave up decisively and continued to indulge in those fantastic dreams.
Lynch and "Dune"
Not only is Lynch's style weird, but his failure is also remarkable. After he turned down "Star Wars," the sci-fi masterpiece "Dune" found him. It was supposed to be a match made in heaven, but unexpectedly, it became his nightmare. On the one hand, the investors encouraged Lynch to film boldly. On the other, they tried every means to castrate his style.
● "Dune" (1984)
Lynch later recalled that he wanted to commit suicide every day of shooting "Dune." After the film was released, it received many negative reviews and lost all the money. In film history, this fiasco is still talked about today. Since then, Lynch has decided never to make another film against his will.
● Lynch on the set of "Dune"
Thought-provoking Masterpiece "Twin Peaks"
● Lynch in "Twin Peaks"
After "Dune," Lynch only wanted to find a field to start again and make a work "Twin Peaks" that grew out of his head. During filming, many people felt that the work was too weird, and the media also questioned whether TV viewers could accept Lynch like this.
● "Twin Peaks," full of beauty and evil
However, as soon as "Twin Peaks" was broadcast, it triggered a craze. After each episode, crazy fans and media gathered in the forum to analyze and argue frame by frame. It can be said that it has revolutionized the TV industry.
● David Bowie made a guest appearance in "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me"
Although "Twin Peaks" Season 2 ended with low ratings and regret, it did not prevent its popularity from running through a quarter of a century and restarting Season 3 in 2017. There is no doubt that Lynch has inspired countless people in the TV industry, and the shadow of "Twin Peaks" can be found in almost all the thriller and suspense TV series since then.
An Ultra "Normal" Lynch Movie
In 1999, Lynch unexpectedly made a very "normal" film, "The Straight Story," it tells the story of an old farmer who drives a lawn mower and travels 300 miles to visit his relatives. This tender film is moved but seems very abrupt in Lynch's works. It is so weird to see an unweird Lynch!
In fact, Lynch is as lovely as his movies are scary. For example, although "Blue Velvet" is full of violent elements, on the set, Lynch always rode around on a pink bicycle with chocolate beans stuffed in his pockets.
He was more heartbroken than anyone else to see the main characters in his films tortured and even cried secretly in the editing room.
● Lynch and the actress of "Blue Velvet" Isabella Rossellini
He is not a director but an artist
Lynch has not made a film in 15 years, counting from his most recent "Inland Empire." But when not making movies, Lynch is also very busy. You may not imagine that designers, singers, cartoonists, and weather anchors are all his labels.
● Works designed by Lynch
● Lynch collaborates with musician Karen O
● Lynch's Comic strip
Lynch is not so much a director as an artist who happens to choose films to express himself.
He is such a Lynch
Honestly, Lynch's films often make me confused and uncomfortable. They are usually not the first choice of most audiences. Lynch has no interest in ordinary narrative, only curious about things he does not understand. Because of this, he is happy and never sets limits on his creativity, no matter what is popular or what the audience thinks.
Over the years, Lynch's films have always had a polarizing reputation, but this man never cared. Maybe the next time he makes a film, he will still film what he wants to!
If you cannot understand Lynch's movie, that is right, just feel it. If you want to rethink everything around you when the movie ends, maybe it is what Lynch wants.
Why not open one of his films and have a weird and beautiful dream with him? Do not forget to tell me which of his works you like best in the comments.
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