Lynch/Oz

David Lynch is revered as a master of the dark and avant-garde, so why is he obsessed with The Wizard of Oz? John Waters, Karyn Kusama and others explain.

From his black-and-white beginnings to the expansive masterpiece that is Twin Peaks: The Return, Lynch (Inland Empire, MIFF 2007; Twin Peaks, MIFF 1990) has been continuously influenced by the 1939 Technicolor classic The Wizard of Oz. In this documentary, audiences will be taken down the yellow brick road of theory, symbolism and cinematic mystery to uncover the reasoning and impact of the director’s enduring fascination with Dorothy, Toto and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Lynch/Oz is the latest deep dive from Alexandre O. Philippe, best known for his investigations into Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (78/52, MIFF 2017) and Ridley Scott’s Alien (Memory – The Origins of Alien, MIFF 2019). The film is once again presented in Philippe’s trademark style that is part scholar, part cinephile-geek, and there’s no better subject for this type of voracious treatment than Lynch. Featuring contributions from filmmakers Waters (A Dirty Shame, MIFF 2005), Kusama (The Invitation, MIFF 2015), David Lowery (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, MIFF 2013), Aaron Moorhead (The Endless, MIFF 2017) and Justin Benson (Spring, MIFF 2015) as well as screen critics and writers, Lynch/Oz will pull back the red curtain for all lovers of Lynch.

“Fascinating … Offers movie-lovers a variety of thoughtful and dynamic new ways of seeing Lynch’s work.” – The Wrap

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Director Alexandre O. Philippe will introduce the film and participate in a Q&A following the screenings on Saturday 6 August and Monday 8 August.