DVD Movie Review: David Lynch: The Art Life

David Lynch: The Art Life (UK Rating: 15)

Admittedly not interested in academia or school, Lynch soon turns to art as a way to express himself and, later, during a Twin Peaks-esque vision, ponders the possibility of experiential filmmaking - "a moving painting… with sound…" - which ultimately led to his career as an avant-garde director.

The documentary does not focus so much on Lynch as a filmmaker, instead focusing on his artistic endeavours as a young man. The audience learns that his father would prefer him to have a steady office job, while his mother just wants him to fulfil his potential. Lynch, however, is more interested in the idea of the 'Art Soul,' which he read about as a teenager. He took this ideology and shaped it into his own philosophy, which he calls 'Art Life' - drinking coffee, burning through cigarettes, and doing nothing but making art, living up to just about every stereotype of an artist there is.

Film-buffs and art-aficionados may want to look elsewhere, though. The documentary doesn't name drop, nor does it cover much in the way of art or cinema theory; Lynch isn't interested in that. This is a look at raw and primitive artistic creation in its purest form.

7/10

Very Good - Bronze Award

Fans of film or art theory may want to look elsewhere, for the making of Eraserhead this is not! Instead, The Art Life allows a deep and studious look at one of America's most gifted creators, roughly up until his mid-20s. Fans and completionists of Lynch's work will find something to enjoy here, though, even if it's just how unashamedly passionate he is about art.