America has lost a unique talent. David Lynchās passing leaves behind an indelible and bewitching body of work.
David Lynch has passed away at the age of 78. It follows last yearās announcement that he had been diagnosed with emphysema and may never direct again. According to Deadline, Lynch’s health worsened after he had to evacuate from his home due to the Los Angeles wildfires.
Making his feature debut in 1977 with Eraserhead, Lynchās surrealist style marked him out as an auteur who largely worked outside of the studio system to create uncompromising art. Briefly, he was nominated in 1980 for an Oscar for The Elephant Man, battled Dino De Laurentiis over 1984ās Dune before disowning the film, directed the incredible Blue Velvet in 1986 and was instrumental in encouraging Nic Cage to develop his unique performance style in 1990ās Wild At Heart.
In the same year, Lynch co-created the TV drama, Twin Peaks, adapting his dreamlike style for the small screen. It was a phenomenon, pioneering a seismic shift in how stylised small screen drama could be.
In the 1990s and beyond, Lynch made his mark on the LA noir genre, making a series of films inspired by his beloved Sunset Boulevard. Lynchās triptych of films ā Lost Highway, Mulholland Drive and Inland Empire.
Mulholland Drive, released in 2001, is a strong contender for Lynchās masterwork, with a 2016 BBC poll placing it as the greatest film ever made. In true Lynch fashion, the filmmaker steadfastly refused to reveal the mysteryās secrets to audiences, instead furnishing them with clues with which to interpret his strange drama themselves. Lynchās maverick repurposing of the film as a feature after it was rejected as a TV pilot is also a testament to his enduring creativity.
Always an artist first, Lynch painted and invented while also continuing to experiment with form and style in his short films. Who else could and would make a film explaining how to cook quinoa that could suddenly be so strange and compelling? Only Lynch.
Weāll miss him terribly, but he leaves behind a body of films that are so diverse, challenging and cryptic, audiences will never tire of seeking new truths in them.
Lynchās family has since released a statement, which reads:
“It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch. We would appreciate some privacy at this time. There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us. But, as he would say, ‘Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.’ It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way.”
Goodbye Mr Lynch. May you rest in peace. Our thoughts go out to his family, lovers of his work and all who have been affected by this terribly sad announcement.