The connection between the films of David Lynch and his obsession with The Wizard of Oz is explored in Lynch/Oz. The Wizard of Oz is considered the quintessential American fairytale and has been an obsession of David Lynch throughout his career. From direct homages, such as the appearance of Glynda in 1990’s Wild at Heart, to vague allusions, the references to Oz in Lynch’s films can be interpreted as a way to make his movies more approachable.
Lynch/Oz is the latest documentary from Alexandre O. Philippe (78/52, Memory: The Origins of Alien), with this latest offering being a series of six visual essays which break down the connection between the films of David Lynch and The Wizard of Oz. Each chapter is narrated by a different film expert, including film critic Amy Nicholson and filmmakers Rodney Ascher (Room 237), John Waters (Hairspray), Karyn Kusama (Destroyer), Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (Spring), and David Lowry (The Green Knight).
Over the course of his documentary career, Alexandre O. Philippe has established himself as a genre film historian. In his latest film Lynch/Oz, Philippe gives the floor to a half dozen other film experts to help break down the surprising connection between the films of David Lynch and The Wizard of Oz. The result is a fascinating visual essay that will make you see David Lynch’s films in an entirely new light.