Industrial context:

Lynch struggled to get funding for his projects in Hollywood due to his bizarre auteur and style. Mullholland drive was originally meant to be a pilot for a TV show, however was scrapped in a matter of weeks, which meant Lynch could pick up the project. The director character and his struggles is a parallel to Lynch’s journey in the industry.

Social/cultural context:

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.

Mulholland drive is heavily inspired by the European surrealist movement in 1920-1950s aiming to create films that connected the conscious to to the unconscious mind. The film was also made in protest towards Hollywood through his personal issues with his Mulholland drive tv series being cut weeks into production using the footage made later on when he changed it to be a film, as well as commenting on the me too movement which spread awareness on the mistreatment of women particular within the film industry showing this through Hollywood’s ominous and shady portrayal within the movie itself.