Ultimately, each life is a mystery until we each solve the mystery, and that’s where we are all headed whether we know it or not – David Lynch, Room to Dream
David Lynch drove millions of viewers nuts with the puzzles he built within his work. With uncompromising freedom the world began to think of him as a complete artist and never stopped. Throughout all forms of media, there is no shortage of attempts to understand the mind of David Lynch. The dive into Lynchian lore will never end. However, it is probable that we will never truly understand such an enchanting and mysterious man, or his mind.
On May 14, 2025, filmmaker Stéphane Ghez brought his enthusiastic documentary to the audience of the Cannes Film Festival. Since then, it has yet to reach much of a wider audience, one that it truly deserves to receive. Welcome to Lynchland presents itself as such an eye opening documentary. The month of January at the British Film Institute focused on their Lynch tribute season “David Lynch: The Dreamer”. It is in this season that a preview screening of Welcome to Lynchland came to London audiences.
At first classified as a cult director in his first films, Eraserhead (1977), The Elephant Man (1980), Blue Velvet (1986). Then he changed the world of television with his series Twin Peaks (1990-2017). Since the beginning of his career, Lynch has truly been an enigma. Constantly tracing the lines between dream and reality, while also tackling the lies of Hollywood as seen in Mulholland Drive (2001), Lynch never lacked imagination in his worlds. If his films show us nothing else, it was simply that he was not afraid of creating absolute freedom in his films (no matter the constraints from Hollywood or producers). David Lynch had a vision. One that is carried out in the most surreal way.
In this well fitting documentary, filmmaker Stéphane Ghez traces the life of the most influential filmmaker of his generation. Throughout this 60-minute documentary, Ghez chooses to explore the hidden meanings in Lynch’s filmography. While conducting interviews and studying the filmmaker’s products, Welcome to Lynchland delves deep under the surface of David Lynch’s American dreamscape. These may feel like things the audience already knows, but it is in the presentation that they provide so much more.
Of course there is only so much new information you can provide about someone who has been studied and discussed for so many years. Yet in this short time, Ghez crafted what feels like such a special memoriam filled with the most important and crucial details of this craftsman. Some documentaries, in most recent years, do not know how to keep timeline order. Thus, as Welcome to Lynchland proceeds, it becomes quite pleasant watching things unfold in the order in which they occurred in Lynch’s life. Even with interviews filmed for this documentary, the flashbacks and stories shared all follow a chronological order. Not only does this make the film feel like it tells the story of Lynch’s life, but it permits such a nicer flow.
Though Welcome to Lynchland has been presented as if made for an audience who are aware of Lynch, the viewing experience proves that is not the case. When watching the documentary, there is so much information given in such a small time frame that it becomes some sort of a Lynch crash course. Meaning that no matter how much or little you know about the director, some unknown knowledge can be gained. Divided into acts within the documentary, each section flows in an easy to follow way. New perspectives are presented with each section of Lynch’s life.
There have been many documentaries made about different influential filmmakers. Even some that have showcased Lynch and his craft already. However, not every documentary presents itself chronologically, or simply in a way easy to follow. The success in the creation and presentation of Welcome to Lynchland is the method in which Ghez has curated all the details he includes. From archive footage to new interviews with those closest to Lynch, there is no lack of passion in the film. No matter who speaks or what is shared, the love and interest for David Lynch is there. A beautiful tribute to an interesting, exceptional, to say the least, man. David Lynch will be forever remembered. Not only will his work will remain relevant, but the adoration and appreciation surrounding him will continue to be explored for all time.
