“Twin Peaks”, “Blue Velvet”… the director’s must-see films and series

CULTURE – His family announced his death this Thursday, January 16. David Lynch died at the age of 78 after a year marked by illness, having suffered from pulmonary emphysema caused by his tobacco consumption. He had not brought a new project to life for several years, but his name is inscribed in the history of cinema and television. And not just in Hollywood. Here are five films and series to better understand this genius director.

Elephan Man

In 1980, the film Elephan Man is released in American cinemas. David Lynch’s second feature film is an adaptation of the memoirs of the doctor who treated Joseph Merrick, nicknamed “ Elephant Man »a patient with multiple deformities. The character is played by John Hurt, who opposite Anthony Hopkins in the role of the doctor. Elephan Man is considered a masterpiece of cinema and a model of the “freak” genre. Nominated for the Oscars, the Golden Globes and the Baftas, the film received the César for best foreign film in 1982.

Blue Velvet

In 1986, David Lynch established himself as a lasting master of the genre with this feature film. It stars Isabella Rossellini, Dennis Hopper but also Laura Dern and Kyle MacLachlan. The film noir follows the fate of a young man who finds a severed ear in a field. He then leads the investigation and in doing so, meets a mysterious young girl. For this film, David Lynch was once again nominated for the Oscars and the Golden Globes.

Sailor et Lula

In 1990, David Lynch reconnected with Laura Dern who played opposite Nicolas Cage in the feature film. In this film, the young woman (who bears the name of the actor’s daughter, Lula) is madly in love with Sailor. But his mother wants to separate them at all costs. The couple then flees to escape him and in doing so, encounter a gallery of strange characters. Willem Dafoe and Isabella Rossellini are also in the cast. This film crowned David Lynch as an essential figure in cinema on an international level, since he won the Palme d’Or at Cannes.

Twin Peaks

A true monument of television and cinema, Twin Peaks is a multiple variation. A series divided into three seasons broadcast in 1990, 1991 and 2017, but also a film released in 1992, and a compilation of scenes cut in 2014. In the cast of Twin Peakswe find in particular Kyle MacLachlan. The detective series follows the investigation of FBI special agent Dale Cooper to find the murderer of young Laura Palmer, in the fictional and mysterious town of Twin Peaks.

Mulholland Drive

Released in 2001, the feature film starring Naomi Watts and Laura Harring follows the destiny of Betty Elms, an aspiring actress who arrives in Los Angeles. His encounter with an amnesiac woman on the road to Mullholland Drive will turn his plans upside down. In Mullholland Drivereality and dreams mix, making the investigation by the police (and the spectators) more complex. The film received the Best Director Award at Cannes and the César for Best Foreign Film in 2002.

Bonus : Dune

Considered David Lynch’s cursed film, Dune has nevertheless become, over the years, cult. The adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel follows (like that of Denis Villeneuve) the fate of Paul Atréides on the planet Arrakis. In the cast, we found Kyle MacLachlan, Patrick Stewart and the singer Sting. It is the only achievement of his career that David Lynch admitted to regret in several interviews, explaining in particular that he did not have the last word on the final choices of script, editing and direction.

This list is obviously not exhaustive. It is also to David Lynch that we owe Lost Highway with Bill Pullman and Patricia Arquette, or even A true storywhich received the Bafta for best foreign film in 2002. For all of his works, David Lynch has received multiple statuettes, including an honorary Golden Lion in 2006 and an honorary Oscar in 2020. He will most likely be honored at the 97th Academy Awards which will take place in Los Angeles on March 2.

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