An interesting thought
Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2015 10:10 am
A new thought I had -- one I haven't seen mentioned before -- regarding Mulholland Drive:
We know which parts of MH comprised the original pilot and which Lynch added when it became a feature.
Lynch has said that he at first had "zero ideas" about how to turn the open-ended pilot into a feature, and then one day the ideas came to him in "one long string." It seems clear, then, that the "dream" interpretation of MH was not in Lynch's mind when it was a pilot. The ideas that came to him later were, simply put, how to turn the reality-based events of the pilot into things that were happening in Diane's head.
Lynch was disheartened that his pilot was not picked up. Perhaps a bit disillusioned with Hollywood. Perhaps becoming cynical. Perhaps what seemed like a creative world full of possibilities was now starting to feel like hell. (After all, "Hollywood is hell.")
So, it's no wonder "Betty's" journey changed from something relatively innocent and well-intentioned to something much, much darker. The fantasy shattered, Lynch turned his story into one of Hollywood failure. In that way, MH's commonly accepted interpretation takes on a decidedly "meta" feeling. Diane's story is also Lynch's story, exaggerated. His dream has become a nightmare.
Just my thoughts today upon rewatching the film and thinking about the vast difference in mood between the feature film and what would have been the pilot.
We know which parts of MH comprised the original pilot and which Lynch added when it became a feature.
Lynch has said that he at first had "zero ideas" about how to turn the open-ended pilot into a feature, and then one day the ideas came to him in "one long string." It seems clear, then, that the "dream" interpretation of MH was not in Lynch's mind when it was a pilot. The ideas that came to him later were, simply put, how to turn the reality-based events of the pilot into things that were happening in Diane's head.
Lynch was disheartened that his pilot was not picked up. Perhaps a bit disillusioned with Hollywood. Perhaps becoming cynical. Perhaps what seemed like a creative world full of possibilities was now starting to feel like hell. (After all, "Hollywood is hell.")
So, it's no wonder "Betty's" journey changed from something relatively innocent and well-intentioned to something much, much darker. The fantasy shattered, Lynch turned his story into one of Hollywood failure. In that way, MH's commonly accepted interpretation takes on a decidedly "meta" feeling. Diane's story is also Lynch's story, exaggerated. His dream has become a nightmare.
Just my thoughts today upon rewatching the film and thinking about the vast difference in mood between the feature film and what would have been the pilot.