David Lynch, our American friend
 

Posté le 19.10.2025

Posters, film set photographs, press kits, and many other rare items are waiting to be discovered at the exhibition on late filmmaker David Lynch.

© Léa Rener

It's an opportunity to pay tribute to a friend of the Institut Lumière and to celebrate the intense work of this director who continues to inspire generations of filmmakers and actors alike. The selection of objects comes from the archives and collections of the Institut Lumière. Let's take a closer look at two of them... 

THE FILM REEL OF ERASERHEAD

The 35mm print of David Lynch's debut feature film is stored in its original metal box. This rare object perfectly symbolises one of the missions of the Institut Lumière: the preservation of heritage. It is also a deliberate nod to the ‘material nature’ of the filmmaker's work: the reel may have scratches and defects due to wear and tear, but these imperfections are also what give the film its unique character.

THE POSTER OF MULHOLLAND DRIVE

This French poster was unveiled for the film's release in January 1997. The masterpiece would screen in US theatres a month later. The image masterfully captures the intense and subversive œuvre of the virtuoso Lynch. It encapsulates the duality of the main characters, the importance of the female gaze, and the mystery of reflected realities that merge. This poster highlights the aesthetics and myth of Hollywood: a machine that can shatter dreams.

Laura Lépine

© Laura Lépine