'David Lynch: The Art Life' A Review

David Lynch: The Art Life is a documentary about the early life and career of film directer/artist David Lynch. The film follows Lynch through childhood to attending art school and eventually his move to Los Angles and the making of his first feature Eraserhead. Extensive narration by Lunch is cut together with personal family footage, old photographs, and shots of Lynch painting.

The perpetually enigmatic Lynch doesn't lay himself bare in the film but is mostly open with sharing particular stories and moments that had a significant impact on him. With knowledge of his work it becomes clear these informative events are dissected and returned to in various scenes, characters, and themes in his work. Although he doesn't directly say this thing lead to this idea, he doesn't have to and you get the sense it doesn't work like that, at least not for him. Much of the film is spent showing Lynch painting and his discussion of visual art and only towards the end do we see how this interest transitioned to film. It is much easier to show and discuss visual art and it becomes are clearer way for Lynch to if not exactly discuss than depict his process.

A lot can be inferred about Lynch and how he works from the film but not a lot is explicitly said, not exactly a surprise. But time and again Lynch comes back to the idea of simply working, creating art is the work, and there is tremendous joy in that. That he has a unflinching need to make stuff. He sums it up at one point "the art life- drink coffee, smoke cigarettes, and paint".

Great for Lynch and movie fans, maybe not as accessible to those unfamiliar or uninterested in his work.

See It.