Two decades after its release, David Lynch’s surreal neo-noir Mulholland Drive continues to perplex audiences. Let’s unpack some common questions that surround this cryptic cult classic:
What is the movie about?
On the surface, David Lynch’s surreal neo-noir Mulholland Drive follows an aspiring actress named Betty who arrives in Hollywood and tries to help an amnesiac woman named Rita uncover her identity after surviving a car crash on Mulholland Drive.
But eventually it’s revealed that much of what we see is actually part of Diane’s dream or fantasy world. Naomi Watts plays both Betty and Diane. Diane is a failed actress filled with bitterness and jealousy over her ex-lover Camilla landing prestigious acting gigs. After Camilla becomes engaged to a director, Diane hires a hitman to kill her.
Consumed by regret, Diane escapes into a dream where she gets the Hollywood happy ending she desires. Her name becomes Betty, an embodiment of her hopeful younger self. Rita represents an idealized version of Camilla who relies on Betty.
Various omens and clues hint that this sunny dream hides a tragic reality. Scenes with demonic figures like the “monster” behind Winkies represent the darkness Diane is avoiding.
Eventually Diane wakes from the fantasy. Unable to cope with her actions, she hallucinates creepy visions like an older couple mocking her. In the end, Diane shoots herself, destroyed by her ruthless ambition and disillusionment with the false Hollywood dream factory.
What’s with the bizarre plot structure?
The film can be divided into two main storylines. First we follow Betty, an aspiring actress who helps Rita, an amnesiac from a car crash. Then everything fractures and we enter the tragic story of Diane, a failed actress who hires a hitman to kill Camilla, her ex-lover.
Many interpret the first part as Diane’s dream or fantasy to escape her bitter reality. Lynch likely wanted to expose the gulf between Hollywood dreams and harsh truth. The non-linear structure and surreal style add to the sense of illusion.
Are Betty and Diane the same person?
Yes. Naomi Watts plays both roles. Optimistic Betty represents Diane’s younger self first arriving in LA, full of hopes for fame. The name change symbolizes Diane’s identity crisis.
What about Rita and Camilla?
Laura Harring plays both Rita and Camilla. Rita embodies Diane’s idealized version of Camilla, before their relationship soured. Camilla is the glamorous ex-lover Diane envies and wants dead.
Why is there a creepy monster behind Winkies?
The monster appears in Dan’s nightmare, then during Diane’s hallucinations. It seems to symbolize evil and corruption in Hollywood. Its presence terrifies both Dan and Diane, representing how chasing fame can transform people into monsters.
What do the bizarre old couple represent?
First seen wishing Betty well, the grotesque couple later cackle demonically over Diane’s corpse. They seem to mock Diane’s failed aspirations. Their empty smiles represent hollow Hollywood dreams that lead to ruin.
What’s the deal with the blue key?
The hitman gives Diane a blue key to indicate Camilla is dead. In the fantasy, the key instead opens an ominous blue box representing Diane’s guilt and reality crashing in. Blue is a signal something sinister lurks beneath the bright Hollywood artifice.
Why is there a woman whispering “Silencio” at the end?
She appears in the eerie Club Silencio sequence where illusion is exposed. Her whisper puts Diane’s final hallucinations to rest, signaling the tragedy’s end. It’s a reminder that Hollywood dreams ultimately give way to silence.
Does the movie have a definite explanation?
Lynch prefers ambiguity, letting audiences decide what’s real or illusion. This openness to interpretation has fueled endless analysis and debate. But at its core, the film seems to be a tragic cautionary tale about dreams gone wrong in a corrupt system.
Does this help make sense of the enduring enigma that is Mulholland Drive? Lynch blended dream logic and noir with a biting Hollywood satire. Two decades later, it remains a surreal, unsettling masterpiece.
