The passing of visionary filmmaker David Lynch last week has reverberated throughout the film enthusiast community and beyond, with tributes pouring in from close collaborators like Kyle MacLachlan, to NASA celebrating his life and filmography.
Lynch’s surrealist style and unique approach to storytelling has influenced independent filmmakers around the world, including one of Ottawa’s own, Lee Demarbre. Co-owner of the Mayfair Theatre and the filmmaker behind Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter, Demarbre shares his perspective with Apt613 on Lynch’s legacy and the significant impact Lynch’s work had on him, both personally and professionally.
The moment I stepped into Demarbre’s home, I knew I was in the right place. With autographs from practically every actor in Hollywood to posters from every film under the sun, it seemed like a fitting backdrop to reflect on Lynch’s place in film history.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Apt613: As someone who has created both experimental films and shared Lynch’s work with Ottawa audiences, what do you find unique about how he speaks to the independent filmmaker community?
Lee Demarbre: I think what’s unique is that when you watch a David Lynch movie and you’re an artist, you want to create. Because you think about the creative process while you’re watching it — you can’t help it. Unless you’re a common moviegoer, his movies might just seem weird to you. But I think a lot of people I know who love Lynch are artists. They’re painters, or songwriters, or filmmakers, and I think people who are in a creative mindset are attracted to his work, and are attracted to his work because it’s awfully inspiring watching his movies. It’s not like watching Marvel, it’s not like watching The Avengers… it’s for film lovers. On Roger Ebert, I never saw this interview he did with David Lynch until recently, that he thanked Lynch because his movies never end.
They stop, but they never end, because you think about them forever. He’s got to be one of the most inspired filmmakers, I would like to say up until this week, “living filmmakers,” but he’s no longer living, which is sad, but his films will live forever, and he will continue to inspire.
David Lynch is one of those artists where everybody remembers the first time they were initiated into his work. Can you tell me a bit about what drew you into his work when you first encountered it?
The first film I saw that David Lynch directed was his second film, The Elephant Man. I was 12, and it didn’t seem attractive because it was in black and white. I just assumed it was old, but it wasn’t old, because it was a new movie shot in black and white, and I was riveted by the film and got very emotional watching it. It’s probably his most linear movie in a lot of ways. But David Lynch’s name didn’t stick with me after the film ended.
But when Blue Velvet came out, the movie opens, and this kid finds an ear in a field. Seeing that, I felt like I was Kyle MacLachlan. I was 14 when Blue Velvet came out, and that concept of finding a severed ear in a field, and trying to unravel the mystery, it stuck with me. It was like seeing The Terminator for the first time, there were all these concepts I had never thought of before, and with that ear, I was on board with him. The movie is riveting, and I enjoy it more now as an adult, being familiar with Lynch’s movies. When he makes a movie, it’s not just one movie, one movie is a part of his conversation.
I completely agree, and it’s been amazing seeing all the love that people are showing both online and in person. I know The Mayfair is doing something for that. Would you like to say a couple things about the festival that you’re doing?
We’ve done this before. Someone dies, we’ll show their best film, one night only. Anyone working at The Mayfair right now probably wouldn’t be working there if it wasn’t for David Lynch, in one way or another. So, we’re dedicating an entire season, showing nine of his 10 films, starting at the end of January, going right until March.
When David Lynch died, I think a lot of people went to their televisions and watched a Lynch movie. I decided to wait, because I want to see them all again on the big screen, even though I saw them all on the big screen during the pandemic.
There’s something really special about watching with an audience. There’s still something you can’t get at home watching a movie, and that’s the communal aspect. So, come see David Lynch, because we owe it to him. We owe him one more time, on the big screen, with a crowd. We owe him our thanks.
You can experience a piece of Lynch’s surrealist dream of a filmography on the big screen every week at The Mayfair’s David Lynch Tribute Film Festival: Dreams of an Eagle Scout, beginning the week of Feb. 7 until the week of April 8. To find out more, you can visit the Mayfair website.
.gif)
