Inland Empire

David Lynch told Variety magazine that "Inland Empire" was a film "about a woman in trouble, and it's a mystery, and that's all I want to say about it."

Having sat through its 180 minutes running time, that's about all I can tell you about the film...

The film is typically 'Lynchian' in its feel; disturbing images, disjointed story-telling, actors playing multiple roles, reality and dream-sequences segueing into each other. It's shot in DV which makes the film feel all the more unsettling. "Inland Empire" makes Lynch's last feature film "Mulholland Dr." seem easy to understand; I was utterly baffled by this one. In fact, during one moment of on-screen weirdness, I suddenly realised I was having a nosebleed! (My most extreme reaction to a film in some time!)

If you want to get an idea of whether "Inland Empire" is likely to appeal, you can watch two of David Lynch's short films - both made in 2002 - on YouTube: "Darkened Room" and "Rabbits". The first short is one of Lynch's first experiments with DV and has a very similar look and feel, while the latter is directly referenced in "Inland Empire".

I'll finish up this 'non-review' with a quote/clue that Lynch introduced the film with at preview screenings: "We are like the spider. We weave our life and then move along in it. We are like the dreamer who dreams and then lives in the dream. This is true for the entire universe." (Aitareya Upanishad)