The vibrant letter from Laura Dern to David Lynch: “You have transformed art forever”

The actress of Blue Velvet, Sailor and Lula, Inland Empire and Twin Peaks: The Return published a long tribute to Lynch in the American press.

David Lynch received a rain of tributes since its disappearance on January 15. From its most faithful actors, Laura Dern,, Isabella Rossellini Or Kyle Maclachlanbut also artists who have been marked by his work, or anonymous equally obsessed with his work, whether in the cinema, via his cult series Twin Peaks or his paintings.

David Lynch celebrated by Kyle Maclachlan: “He changed my life”

Why does Lynchian art fascinate us so much? This is one of the questions asked by an excellent documentary recently broadcast on Arte, David Lynch, an enigma in Hollywoodimagined as an investigation to try to find the keys to his universe, and better understand the symbols he has hidden everywhere in his work.

This question is also present in the messages shared by his relatives, who explain that they have not understood everything in the world of Lynch, but having felt honored to have been invited to participate.

Laura Dern in Blue Velvet (1986).

In addition to His shared tribute on InstagramLaura Dern has published a long letter in memory of her mentor who has disappeared in the Los Angeles Times. She first evokes the sadness of seeing this emblematic filmmaker of Los Angeles die at a time of deep crisis for her adopted city:

“I am not shocked that gratitude and despair are so closely linked at the moment for our city and our loss – a genius that has given us not only some of our most emblematic images and which influenced our dreams, but which also woven Los Angeles forever. “

Lynch will have directed it four times, each time offering him strong roles: in Blue Velvet (1986), Sailor and Lula (1990), Inland Empire (2006) and Twin Peaks: The Return (2017).

“On Blue Velvet, you took us under your wing, Kyle Maclachlan and I treated us like essential collaborators, Does she write about their first joint project. The fact of considering us as partners and peers has deeply shaped us both. You believed in the ritual of art and grace that deserves to be granted to it. My first memory is that of a hot wind floating above us by a summer night in Wilmington, in North Carolina, where you played Chostakovitch while we were spinning, so that we can understand the feeling of mystery to which you would aspire. Kyle and you introduced me to ‘The chickens walk.’“”

Laura Dern, Kyle Maclachlan and David Lynch in Twin Peaks: The Return (2017).

She also tells of their last experience, when returning from Twin Peaks ::

“I remember sitting with you in the hotel bar in the center of Los Angeles to tWin Peaks: The return. We were about to shoot a scene where my character, Diane, was attracted to a room upstairs, where she would express her story in a monologue and experience a deep horror. What struck me with such admiration, when I was sitting, cigarette in hand, is how much Diane’s journey was important to you – how much you liked this character. You wanted to stay by his side. “

“Teenager, I would never have imagined, that I would have the chance to spend all these years changing shape, writes the daughter of Bruce Dern. And to grow, guided by your advice on the path of art. You gave me the opportunity to explore all aspects of the female psyche, to play archetypes and then break any previous understanding of these. You pushed me towards fearlessness. You took me to haunted places of terror, but also in holy places, and you even helped me find joy in the tragedy. You managed to make me believe in everything that is good in our country and fear everything that is hidden there. “

“Through you, I learned what it means to be loved without judgment, to be accepted for what we are. You have transformed art forever, whether it be cinema, music, Painting, animation or by making a weather bulletin – everything has become a reverie space. of my days “concludes the actress.

The entire letter is to be read herein English.

Behind the scenes of Blue Velvet, first masterpiece of David Lynch