Lynch/Oz

Writer-director Alexandre O. Philippe has made quite a few full-length documentaries about films — and even just specific scenes from films, as in 78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene. Making its Madison premiere courtesy of UW Cinematheque is the 2022 doc Lynch/Oz. In six chapters (narrated by luminaries such as John Waters), the film examines director David Lynch’s fascination with 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz, and how the film's themes and iconography can be seen as connective fiber through Lynch’s varied filmography. (As a refresher of sorts, Cinematheque is also screening Blue Velvet, at 7 p.m. on June 29.)

media release: USA | 2022 | DCP | 109 min.

Director: Alexandre O. Philippe

The themes, images, and cultural vernacular of MGM’s The Wizard of Oz continue to haunt David Lynch’s art and filmography—from his very first short, The Alphabet, to his most recent season of Twin Peaks. Filmmaker Alexandre O. Philippe, whose previous work has made close examination of the shower scene in Psycho, the origins and legacy of Alien, and the use of Monument Valley in cinema, has assembled here six different visual essays narrated by, among others, John Waters, Karyn Kusama, and Room 237’s Rodney Ascher. These separate voices lead us to find new appreciation and meaning in The Wizard of Oz by way of Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart, Mulholland Dr., and other contemporary movies. “If The Wizard of Oz is one of your favorite movies, and if Lynch is one of your favorite filmmakers, then watching Lynch/Oz is like seeing two old cinematic friends sitting around talking to each other” (Owen Gleiberman, Variety).

Take a break from the dog days of summer and enjoy free screenings of great movies every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evening from June 28 to August 4. UW Cinematheque's summer season begins with Charlotte Le Bon's evocative Falcon Lake on June 28, followed by David Lynch's Blue Velvet on June 29. Summer selections also include local premieres, another trip to Lynchland by way of the Land of Oz, and a voyage into and beyond the Valley of the Dolls. Plus, a pair of dreamlike contemporary classics from Hungary, two by Federico Fellini starring Alberto Sordi, a Barbara Stanwyck double feature showcase on 35mm, a diptych of NYC bank heist films, and more! All Cinematheque screenings are free and open to the public.