Inland Empire (2006)
In 2006, the Venice Film Festival awarded David Lynch the Golden Lion lifetime achievement award for his contribution to film, and the Future Film Festival Digital Award for Inland Empire. The film also won the Special Award for Best Experimental Film from the National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA in 2007.
In a passing conversation with Lynch, Laura Dern, who plays Nikki Grace/Susan Blue in the film, unknowingly spoke the words that would become the title of the film. ‘Inland Empire’ refers to a region in southern California that encompasses some of the oldest cities in the region. The film itself was shot over 2 and a-half years, mostly in Poland and in parts of California. However, rather than focus on location, the film tends towards the interior. Events and narrative progression are revealed by their aggregates or isolation, rather than through a linear storyline. This technique invokes a more sensual than cerebral response from the viewer, and is perhaps indicative of Lynch’s interest in transcendental meditation.
This is the first film that Lynch has shot entirely on digital video (using a Sony PD-150), adding a rough quality that richens its impact. Some critics think it detracts from the film. He now maintains that he prefers working in digital rather than film. Additionally, Lynch took a risk by working without a script. He would write dialogue for the scenes and pass it on to the actors to perform without any idea of the direction it might end up.
An autobiographical montage, with both real parts and fictive ones, the film exhibits themes and various connections from a lifetime of work. It is a thrilling nightmare of Lynch’s complete oeuvres, beating together behind the eyes of a new skin. Each scene opens a door into a different cavern of Lynch’s mind.
The actors themselves have admitted that they had to see the film in order to understand more about it. And Lynch has stated, "It's about a woman in trouble, and it's a mystery, and that's all I want to say about it." Jeremy Irons, Justin Theroux, Diane Ladd, Julia Ormond, William H. Macy, and the voice of Naomi Watts are also featured in the film.
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Grading
- Story A
- Acting A
- Visuals A
- Originality/Innovation A
- Enjoyability A
- Overall A
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