Score – 9/10 I really enjoyed this film because I thought it had a really good plot twist and although the storyline was confusing, watching the end and the plot being pulled together was really entertaining.

My memorable scene would be the scene in which ‘Betty’ and ‘Rita’ visit flat 17 and discover the corpse of a woman. I think this is when the storyline becomes really sinister and makes us question who the woman is and what is happening.

Iconic Shot

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

Lynch makes use of a non-linear narrative to construct a more though compelling story, an often theme with in his work. With his use of a non-linear narrative he chooses to create many questions about what goes on within the film with the inclusion of other elements such as Sub-plots (e.g. Adam the director or the mysterious film executive) and Narrative hooks (e.g. the enigma behind the characters identities). These are all combined to create an effect of mystery to the story.

the narrative of Mulholland drive could be described as non-linear. This gives the film a sense of confusion and mystery as the viewers would have to piece scenes together to get the full story. This would give the film good rewatch value as people will not understand the film on first time watching it.

The use of a non-linear narrative fits into the ideas of surrealist film as it tries to link to link the ideas on the conscious and unconscious mind. and create the feeling that there’s more to the film that meets the eye on first glance.

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.