In the town of Twin Peaks, everyone has their secrets.
One of America's greatest surrealist visionaries left us a body of work that transformed cinema. Of the most experimental of David Lynch's films, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me was initially reviled but is now regarded as being quintessential Lynch—raw, resolute, and haunting.
For those familiar with Twin Peaks, the mystery of Laura Palmer's murder is unforgettable. Where the TV series veiled horror behind the veneer of small-town charm, Fire Walk with Me confronts Laura's horrific reality with unflinching honesty. Free from network censoring, Lynch exposed Twin Peaks' dark depths in a manner America wasn't quite ready to witness.
Stylistically, it's Lynch at his most experimental, a precursor to Mulholland Drive's mythic shattered narrative style. Reality unravels through dizzying lighting, editing, and sound, putting audiences within Laura's trauma rather than observing from afar. If Blue Velvet hinted at suburban corruption, Fire Walk with Me dove in head-first.
As we bid farewell to David Lynch, we honor an artist who dared to stare into the abyss and take us with him.
Dir. David Lynch (1992); France, US; English; 132 min
Programmed by Naomi Nguyen
Friday, May 16 at 6:00 PM & 8:30 PM
Saturday, May 17 at 6:00 PM & 8:30 PM
Sunday, May 18 at 3:00 PM