Three Lynch Films at Cinéma du Parc

Surrealist director David Lynch may be busy on his current online webisode interview series and absent from feature filmmaking, but his work lives on starting this week at the Cinéma du Parc with Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.

June 19th, 20th, 21st and 24th
Blue Velvet (1986)
Shocking audiences on release, this film marks the beginning of the particular Lynchian style of atmosphere that would continue through the rest of his directorial efforts. The story takes place in a small quiet logging town where everyone is sweet and innocent; but underneath this dormant community lies a darker and more frightening truth: mobsters, kidnappings, sexual abuse and dream-like realities. It stars Kyle MacLachlan who would later star in the television series, “Twin Peaks” as well as Isabella Rossellini whose hyper-sexualized performance shocked some critics into calling the film far too sadistic.

June 22nd to 25th
Wild at Heart (1990)
Winning the Palme d’Or at the Cannes film festival, Lynch’s followup to Blue Velvet “follows the troubled romance of Sailor (Nicolas Cage) and Lula (Laura Dern), two lovers who struggle to remain together even when fate seems intent on keeping them apart. In this case, fate is Lula’s mother, Marietta Fortune (Diane Ladd), a desperate woman who hates Sailor and will do anything to keep him away from her daughter. He and Lula embark on a sex-filled, rocking road trip, aware that they are being hunted by one of Marietta’s cronies. Lynch’s raucous film contains his trademark visual style, over-the-top dialogue, and pulsating soundtrack, creating another truly distinct picture.” (source)

June 26th to 28th
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)
It’s a shame Cinéma du Parc won’t be showing the popular series that started it all: this film is a prequel that works as a standalone, but ruins some of the surprises in the two-season show. While it hardly answers all the questions brought up by the time the series was cancelled, it showcases the life of Laura Palmer and her descent into violence and sex that eventually leads to her brutal murder (this is how “Twin Peaks” starts). If you get a chance, I recommend renting the series before going out to watch this one: Boîte Noire has multiple copies for rent - then head out the theaters and discover the film, which is much more disturbing.

For more information on showtimes and ticket prices, click here.