Culture
May 15, 2024

The mysterious world of David Lynch

David Lynch once said that "Inland Empire" is a look through "blurred slices of the human ego on dark chasms". The American cult director admits openly that he too does not know what his new movie is about. The space for interpretation is great - as he uses it, every viewer has to decide for himself. Typically David Lynch!

The idea

The shooting began David Lynch without a fixed script. He wrote each scene just before it was shot. This fresh footage complements previously filmed scenes with Laura Dern that Lynch had originally produced for his site. There are also sequences from a surrealist sitcom about a family of giant rabbits and some Poland episodes that Lynch recorded during the Lodz Film Festival. Within this abstruse scene constellation, he creates a story that is hard to follow. The common thread is fear, but the viewer can never be sure who is scared of who and why. The sense of threat permeates the film and determines the actions of the characters.

The history

Nikki Grace (Laura Dern) is hired as an actress for the new movie by director Kingsley Stewart (Jeremy Irons). Shortly before filming, she and her co-star Devon Berk (Justin Theroux) learn that the love story is a remake. The completion of the original version failed years ago, as both protagonists were killed. Once again strange things happen during the filming, which obscure the viewer in abstract signs and hints: An enigmatic curse seems to surround the film. The film in the film does not make understanding the lynch logic much easier, especially as it mixes with the reality of the film. Nikki Grace can no longer distinguish between set and her own life and her identity is increasingly merging with that of her role - her former self?

The public

The viewer is quickly caught in a confusion of reality, fiction, past, present and future. Logical explanations and resolutions are provided by Lynch to the audience as usual. Instead, he rejects them by designing disturbing, disturbing worlds whose meaningfulness remains withheld from viewers - including Lynch himself. "Inland Empire" is a challenge that requires concentration and attention. The scenes were "come over him," explains David Lynch.

The review

The Filmbewertungsstelle Wiesbaden gave "Inland Empire" the title of "particularly valuable" and justified this by stating that the film was "a challenge for the senses ... profound, encrypted, provocative and macabre." The rating is accurate, which does not make the movie "especially valuable" for everyone. The characteristic Lynch paradox, the unresolved metaphors, the surreal presentation and design - that's really a matter of taste. And since "Inland Empire" takes less than three hours, not recommended for everyone.

The conclusion

The National Society of Film Critics awarded Lynch a Special Award for Best Experimental Film. As such, "Inland Empire" also works: It convinces through incoherent storylines, rapid change of perspective and blur beyond recognition. In addition, Laura Dern, who is already for the third time for Lynch in front of the camera, really takes care of the soul. An arthouse film first class, then. "How weird," says a woman as a farewell to the camera - more aptly the conclusion could not be formulated at this point!