Like Dorothy Gale, David Lynch was a Midwesterner and wanted something more out of life than there. He shares that in common with many people, me included, but this film, "David Lynch--The Art Life" shows not only how Lynch artistically evolved, but the sacrifice and loneliness creators must face in their passion for the work they do.
Much footage shows Lynch at work, slapping paint onto paint, or creating the kinds of bizarre images his movies would show, and sticking them on to various projects. Lynch's skill for building began with his father, who would build unusual contraptions. They had a fascination to them, suggesting to me that David inherited his talent from his father.
Lynch's talent was honed at the Pennsylvania Academy Of Fine Arts, which he attended for a limited time, and where his developing imagery led to a life in Philadelphia, the gritty side, resulting in short films, and culminating in his first major work, "Eraserhead," with Jack Nance in 1977, the year I graduated from college.
I saw "Eraserhead" in the early eighties, and while the camerawork and imagery impressed me, because of the on-camera murder of the mutant baby, I could never bring myself to see it again. It was with "Blue Velvet," not covered here, that Lynch and I clicked.
Lynch's life happened to be a genius who took off. Not all do, and the chronicling of Lynch's early years shows the solitude and uncertainty of the life of any artist.
This 2022 documentary is a must for all David Lynch fans.
It may even begin to have one viewing life in images instead of absolutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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