2022 ‧ Documentary ‧ 108m
Alexandre O. Philippe has made a name for himself in film documentaries. 78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene, about the famous scene in Psycho, is probably his most well known. His work isn’t just about film itself, but also its cultural and personal impact. Lynch/Oz examines the influence of Victor Fleming’s 1939 masterwork The Wizard of Oz on the films of cult director David Lynch, and to us all.
The documentary is presented in six sections, each narrated by people in the film industry. Film critic Amy Nicholson opens the discussion, and directors take up the other five sections. Nicholson puts forth that there are two archetypal American films that have the most profound influence: The Wizard of Oz and It’s a Wonderful Life. Two films with similar story beats that flopped initially, but found new life on television. Oz, according to Nicholson, might be America’s quintessential fairy tale and an illuminating conduit into understanding the work of David Lynch. There are a lot of red shoes and curtains in his films after all.
The additional segments dive deeper and deeper into this idea. Room 237 director Rodney Ascher speaks of the Kansas dynamic in Lynch’s Lumberton. John Waters speaks at length of his kinship with the director as a fellow cult movie weirdo, but also about how Oz is so inspiring. Karyn Kusama, director of cult favorite Jennifer’s Body, offers a deep analysis of Oz and Mulholland Dr. Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, known as Moorhead and Benson (Spring, The Endless), bring up how the Campbell myth in Oz might be the most influential use of said myth as well delving into concept of “Judy” in Twin Peaks. The film ends rather interestingly with David Lowery talking about children growing up into adults and how we understand the world. Lowery and Lynch have a Disney connection that colors his segment.
The fact that Janus films distributed this all but confirms Phillipe’s doc is destined to be a special feature on future 4K release from the Criterion Collection. Lynch/Oz is less a typical documentary and more a collection of visual essays. This is probably the film’s biggest flaw. We never see the contributors, we just hear their voices over various film clips. Though expertly done, it at times feels like one is watching a series of Youtube videos. One could watch each section separately, but to Phillippe’s credit they do seem to build upon one another or at least create a thematic throughline. Redundancy is avoided. The filmmakers resist the temptation to speak at length of all the Oz references in Wild at Heart, but somehow no one mentions that the band who scored Dune is named Toto.
Yes, Lynch/Oz is very much a movie for film nerds to really nerd out on. Some will find that boring or insufferable, and that is understandable. However, Phillipee brings to the discussion an interesting look at how art works and how it influences not just one person but also how it gets into cultural zeitgeist. It is unlikely someone without much interest in film studies would want to give Lynch/Oz a watch, but even those with a passing interest will find something in Phillipee’s documentary. It posits questions and answers, but still leaves that lovely romantic and dark mystery of Lynch’s work. Although Oz might offer a way to understand Lynch’s work, it does not explain it.
Lynch/Oz is a fascinating look at how a seminal work can affect not just one filmmaker but all of us. It is hard to recommend to the uninitiated, one will want a good understanding of Lynch’s work to fully appreciate the film.
Grade: B-
~Andrew