How does Lynch make use of or subvert traditional narrative techniques to tell the story? – In order to make the surrealist elements of Mulholland Drive clear, David Lynch presents the film in a non-linear order, especially in the final act depicting the ‘real world’. The film uses many narrative devices, such as a McGuffin in the form of a blue box and key, which acts as the bridge between the unconscious mind and conscious one. Subplots are also present throughout the film such as the men in the diner coming face to face with the monster and Adam, the director, growing frustrated with Hollywood executives.

Mullholland Drive uses the narrative technique of a cyclical narrative, a non-linear narrative, and it works on 3 different layers, a dream like layer, a subconscious layer, and a reality, creating a confusing narrative, which all helped it attain its ‘cult’ status, as people can re-watch and discuss over it’s plot for a long time.

The film also makes use of plot twists, in it’s characters and Narratives, especially with Diane/Betty and Rita/Camilla, the power status’ between the two characters are constantly being flipped near the end, and neither are who we originally believe them to be.

Industrial context. Mulholland drive was originally meant to be a series but was shut down with in weeks of filming. Lynch took the scenes that had been recorded and ended up producing a feature film. When lynch proposed the idea to Hollywood they ended up giving him a budget of 15 million which is fairly low for Hollywood’s standards. After the plot for the seires was rejected Lynch ended up getting his funding by studio canal which is a european film making company. This enabled him to have more creativity in his ideas. Mulholland Drive premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2001, where Lynch won the Best Director award.

socio-political and cultural contexts:

Mulholland drive is a surrealist film and is inspired by the surrealist movement in 1920s to unite the conscious and unconscious mind. The film is very critical of Hollywood and how it can destroy so many young actors dreams. we see this through betty who arrives in Hollywood with the hope of becoming an actress but instead gets quite the opposite. even though this film was released just after 9/11 there is still the sense of fearing the unknown and mystery that surrounds the film

Narrative

How does Lynch make use of or subvert traditional narrative techniques to tell a story?

By unravelling a seemingly complicated narrative, 

Lynch allows for a philosophical, self-reflexive investigation of the nature of film. The non-linear narrative is used to essentially prevent the viewer from being lulled into the fantasy, and to focus on the mood of a scene, and not the story being told.

This experimental way of directing is linear to surrealism, where the aim isn’t to fully understand everything, but quite the opposite. Lynch does this through the se of flashforwards/backs, in media res, macguffins and ellipsis.

Lynch makes uses of a ambitious mysterious plot deliberately to cause confusion among the audience and make the film hard to follow. Their is no clear explanation of the plot or conclusion. This gives the film a lot of re watch value.

The experimental narratives works as the film is split into self contained story scenes. None of the scenes feel connected which adds to the mystery and leaves the point of the film up into interpretation from the audience.

Industrial Contexts – Mulholland Drive was initially filmed as a 90-minute television pilot in 1999, although executives that were shown the pilot hated it and immediately cancelled the series. David Lynch subsequently gained the funding from production company StudioCanal to conduct reshoots in order to complete the pilot as a feature film, with the reshoots taking place over a year after initial filming began.

Socio-Political and Cultural Contexts – Lynch uses Mulholland Drive to criticise how young women are mistreated by misogynistic executives in the filmmaking industry, which was important in a time in which higher-ups in Hollywood included the likes of Harvey Weinstein. Additionally, he reinforces his frustration with the industry through the character of Adam, a director who loses his creative freedom at the hands of executives who call the shots.

The 21st century was a period of rapid change and experimental movements which largely impacted the production and ideas presented in Lynches 2001 production Mulholland Drive. These include the social, institutional and political aspects which all greatly affected the film.

Firstly, the Me Too movement was a social movement and awareness campaign against sexual abuse, sexual harassment overall problems with the days misogynistic issues. This is where people spoke out and published their experiences of sexual abuse other problems linked to their gender.

The movement drew attention to sexism and misogyny in the film industry. Lynch used Mullholland Drive in order to be critical of the way Hollywood system treats people, especially young women. It presents the idea that the audience should consider how the industry dehumanises people.

Context

Industrial contexts – 2001 was the first time that two films released in the same year grossed more than $800 million at the box office, with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring surpassing the milestone.

The inaugural entries of the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings film franchises prompted a shift in both the film and literary communities by propelling fantasy into mainstream culture, popularizing young adult novels, and reforming the blockbuster to promote film franchises and cater to fandom communities.

Socio-political and cultural contexts –

This film was part of the post-modern film movement in 1990-2000s, and contains intertextual references, one being sunset Boulevard (1950) which became inspiration for the plot. Though predating movements against misogyny in Hollywood, Mullholland Drive still criticises this in it’s hyper-realistic depiction of Hollywood and parts of the industry.

Popular culture in 2001 saw the beginnings of the Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings film franchises, the development of the iPod and iTunes for music, and the release of three major video game systems. The year also saw the release of Mac OS X and Windows XP, as well as the launch of Wikipedia.

Industrial Contexts –

Due to what can be perceived as Lynch’s’ satirical approach on Hollywood within the Film, he often struggled for financing and support from Hollywood studios. Originally intended as TV show, it was axed early on within the weeks of its production. As a result Lynch decided to use the existing film as well as some additional scenes to create his feature film.

How this is depicted in Mullholland Drive can be seen through character Adam, a director within the film, who experiences the hardships and shadowy running’s within the Hollywood system.

Socio-political & Cultural Contexts –

Socio-political –

Emerging during the start to a new millennium (2001), Mullholland Drive brought about a gritty depiction of reality that women face within the Hollywood system. Covering topics such as sexism and misogyny, this early representation would go on to be used within support of the #metoo movement in 2006 where women’s treatment in the industry would come more to light.

Cultural –

Inspired by the European surrealist movement of the 1920s-1950s, the main aim was to unite the conscious and unconscious mind. Categorised as apart of the American postmodern film movement of the 1990’s/early 2000’s the film depicts the character’s world as a hyper-reality. Following a non-linear structure the film within its self contains many intertextual references. The film makes use of its influences such as Gilda (Vidor, 1946) and paintings of Edward Hopper. The Film in itself can said to be influenced by Sunset Boulevard (Wilder, 1950), which also follows a plot of an actress looking for work within Hollywood, on Mullholland Drive.

score: 9/10

Most Memorable Scene/ Key Moment:

I think this scene created the most impact on the spectator, sandwiched in between the very surrealist and often confusing nature of the ‘Silencio’ club, this scene is signposted for its raw emotion. The spectator doesn’t need to understand the meaning behind this sequence but instead shares the same feeling of melancholy and drama both Betty and Diane feel.

Iconic Image: