David Lynch says no one has ever come close to his interpretation of Eraserhead

From Eraser: A Look Back a.k.a. Eraserhead Stories.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• David Lynch
• Jack Nance
• Eraserhead
• Surrealism
• Film
• Movie
• Documentary
• Interview
• Mutant Baby
• Scary
• Disturbing
• Henry Spencer
• 1976

[SergeantLuke]

Judging by Lynch's stream-of-consciousness production style, I doubt that even HE has any idea what his films are about before he finishes them. Most likely, his interpretations of them are obtained the same way his viewers' are: by watching the finished product.

[Superabound2]

To me, Eraserhead has always been about the fear and anxiety of commitment, of marriage, the commitment of family, and of social and familial constructs subsuming your independent personhood. The fear of gestating towards an unknown result, the fear of becoming.

[MisterKauffman]

When it comes to David Lynch, I don't think 'getting it' really matters. The best way to approach a Lynch movie is to just sort of absorb the weird moviegoing experience of it all; set aside the magnifying glass for later.

[stevesan]

To me, Eraserhead evokes emotions of fear and uncertainty about one's future. Jobs, relationships, family, all that. The chipmunk girl is like a safe haven, she is welcoming and non-judgmental, and we all want that sometimes when life gets tough.

That's just my interpretation. Now, I understand Lynch probably doesn't want to share his personal interpretation because that would inevitably become the "correct" one, but I am just really curious especially since he says no one else has come close!

[Jauckor]

@bardero23 No confundas ambiguedad con vaguedad. La primera es un efecto de la mala recepción del mensaje, el segundo; en el contenido del mismo. Pero sí, entiendo tu punto y sé a lo que te refieres. Bueno pues, ya saben como son estos cineastas lado B. Tienes que interpretarlos pues su trabajo se basa en eso. Mira, en Hollywood, por ejemplo, nadie pregunta por el significado de sus películas -saltan a la vista- así que esa es la temática luego de hacer un largo. Un gran saludo.

[bardero23]

@Jauckor si supongo que de ahí viene la valoración de Erasehead, pero me gustaría oírlo de David Lynch para verificar realmente si esa era su finalidad. Por q si es por el relativismo, yo puedo hacer una obra con el propósito d q sea algo ambiguo o vago y ser un genio por que todos tienen su propia interpretación de ella.

[Superabound2]

@SomethingReal1119 A lot of surrealism is meaningless, or at least so decontextualized as to be stripped of meaning, but i think the true geniuses like Lynch use their instinct, their unconscious inspiration to act almost as mediums for feelings and emotions and thoughts that cannot be precisely stated, that are better loosely held than coherently grasped. You can always find deeper meaning in Lynch's work, it always expresses things beyond discrete language or form.

[SomethingReal1119]

@Superabound2 You know, I think you REALLY got it, Superb. I always felt that feeling (derealization) when I watched this, but couldnt put my finger on where it was coming from. I so wanted to understand this film (even though surrealism is supposed to be meaningless) After reading your comment a little while ago, it hit me like a ton of bricks! You are pretty insightful. Hats off to you. Oh, by the way, the guy that made me feel that way way back when....he's in jail now. :0P

[Superabound2]

@SomethingReal1119 haha wow, sounds like youre describing my life in the early-to-mid 2000s. I felt the same way, and yeah it puts you in this bubble of unreality, and you cant even realize how abnormal things are until you get out and look back on it with some distance.

[SomethingReal1119]

@Superabound2 I agree! Throughout the entire film, I felt such anxiety. When I tried to analyze my own uncomfortable feelings as I watched this, I realized they were coming from an old memory... I was once in a relationship with someone that I felt utterly trapped, smothered, and helpless to get out. This person wanted total committment and I didn't. I had feelings of derealization, things felt strange and out of place when I was with this person. Thank goodness I left. Good analysis, imho.

[Jauckor]

@bardero23 No dijo eso sino que las interpretaciones de las personas no son semejantes a las que él porque somos distintos. Y básicamente lo que hace es bueno porque deja abierta muchas posibilidades y de acuerdo a las experiencias de cada uno o sensaciones, pues Eraserhead adquiere un significado nuevo cada vez. Sea ahora, hace dos años o dentro de 20. Interpreta el mundo a tu manera, al fin y al cabo, todo parte de nuestras creencias y esas son nuestras verdades. Saludos.

[jxhensley]

@FrankTJmakey1 you're not angry enough, put some effort into it