David Lynch Film Festival Coming to Webster University in St. Louis

“Mother, they’re still not sure if it IS a baby.”

I was first exposed to the Lynchian style during the summer of 1978 when David Lynch’s first feature ERASERHEAD premiered in St. Louis. This was at the old Varsity Theater in the Delmar Loop area (in the building that now houses Vintage Vinyl). The Varsity was the place to go for cult movies then and, since the weekends were reserved for ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, they hosted a Wednesday night summer midnight series they called “Weird Wednesdays” I didn’t know who Lynch was but I found his seminal universe of nightmarish visions remarkable and I still have the “ERASERHEAD – I SAW IT” button they handed out that night. Lynch began work on ERASERHEAD when he was given a small grant by the AFI Conservatory, but the money ran out and it took him over 5 years to finish — in spurts. ERASERHEAD is certainly not for everyone…in fact, it’s not for most, however, you can surely see the singular artistic vision that is David Lynch’s — his style, pacing, use of music, visuals, are all on display.

Now St. Louis-area movie fans will have the opportunity to follow the career of David Lynch when Webster University’s Film Series presents “Everything Is Fine: The Films of David Lynch“, a festival celebrating this visionary artist that runs eight consecutive Thursday nights this fall from August 23rd to October 11th. The series starts off with ERASERHEAD and this is a great opportunity to see a master surrealist at work, examining his own obsessions and personal iconography. One can chart Lynch’s growth as an artist over a two-month period, something I’ve been doing for over thirty years now. I saw all of these films at the theater when they were new (with the exception of the Twin Peaks pilot) and, though a couple of key titles are missing (I wish they were showing THE STRAIGHT STORY), this is a superb 8-film distillation of Lynch’s career.

All films will be shown at Winifred Moore Auditorium (470 E. Lockwood, Webster Groves, MO 63119) on the campus of Webster University. Ticket prices are:
•    $6 for the general public
•    $5 for seniors, Webster alumni and students from other schools
•    $4 for Webster University staff and faculty
•    Free for Webster students with proper I.D.

Here’s the line-up for Everything Is Fine: The Films of David Lynch. All films begin at 7:30pm

August 23 - ERASERHEAD

August 30 – THE ELEPHANT MAN

September 6 - BLUE VELVET

September 13 – WILD AT HEART

September 20 -  Twin Peaks (Original TV Pilot)

September 27 - TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALKS WITH  ME

October 4 - LOST HIGHWAY

October 11- MULHOLLAND DRIVE

Here I am with my vintage ERASERHEAD button