Screened/ David Lynch at Texture, Manchester

Tom Grieve, Cinema Editor

Book now

Screened/ David Lynch

3 July 2017

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Lost Highway - Image courtesy of Screened/ Mcr
Book now

One of the most illuminating facts about David Lynch is that he once shaved a mouse – just to see what it looked like without any fur. The multi-talented director/painter/musician/actor has made a career out of examining what lies beneath; peeling back surfaces to get a good look at the hidden, and often deeply disturbing, textures of life. It is this earnest appetite for the unknown, combined with a surrealist bent, an overlooked, deadpan gee-golly sense of humour and a supreme natural instinct for constructing images and scenes that have built Lynch such a dedicated fanbase.

This fanbase has been starved in recent years. The odd album, and a terrific extended appearance on television series Louie, have provided glimpses of the revered artist, but Lynch is most appreciated for his directorial work – and it’s been ten years since his excellent, free-associative INLAND EMPIRE (screening at HOME on the 13th June) hit screens. It should come as no surprise then, that the return of seminal ‘90s television show Twin Peaks – which sees Lynch direct all 18 new episodes – last month has seen an outpouring of love and appreciation flow in the direction of the Montana-born maverick.

Patricia Arquette in Lost Highway

Alongside the re-releases and special screenings of his work, a new documentary entitled David Lynch: The Art Life will hit cinemas in July, and, in Manchester, the folk at Screened/ Mcr will present their own tribute. Hosted at Texture, the evening will feature guest speaker Mary Wild, whose work on the Projections lecture series, and interest in cinematic representations of the unconscious, surrealism, dystopia and love, render her perfect for wrestling with Lynch’s work. Alongside Wild, there will be a screening of the director’s 1997 film Lost Highway.

A noirish L.A. mystery, Lost Highway begins with jazz-musician (Bill Pullman) and his wife (Patricia Arquette) being stalked in their own home, before an act of violence and a “psychogenic fugue” (Lynch’s words) signal a radical second act break that sends the film spinning in a new direction with a new set of characters. It’s a beguiling work that has been interpreted both as a depiction of mental illness and as a dive into the supernatural. However one chooses to take it, the film is kinetic and ferocious; seducing the audience whilst generating a deep, distinctly Lynchian unease that lingers and affects long after the closing credits.

Where to go near Screened/ David Lynch at Texture, Manchester

Manchester
Restaurant
Salt & Pepper

Chinese inspired British food in the centre of Manchester, backed up by plenty of well-deserved local hype.

Morning Glory - Coffee Cup
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Morning Glory

Morning Glory positions itself as a grab-and-go spot, with just 12 seats inside serving coffee, bagels and sweet treats.

The Warehouse In Holbeck
Leeds
Event venue
The Warehouse In Holbeck

Run by acclaimed theatre company Slung Low, The Warehouse in Holbeck is home to boundary-pushing performance and community projects.

Leeds
Event venue
The Attic

Tucked away above the bustle of Merrion Street, The Attic is one of Leeds’ most distinctive small venues – intimate, unpretentious, and steeped in DIY spirit.

The Chevin is a great place for visitors to do lots of different activities and is open all year round with 5 free car parks. To help you find out whatís best for you we have divided this section up into some of these different activities.Please be aware that The Chevin is a working estate so you may see vehicles including timber-extraction lorries using some of the tracks.Self-guided WalksThe Chevin is a big place and there is a good network of paths to make your own circular walk, but if you want to follow a themed trail there is a Geology Trail, Heritage Time Trail and a route for Tree Spotters.Bikes & HorsesThere is an extensive bridleway network on the eastern parts of The Chevin that caters for a range of abilities.Orienteering and GeocachingTwo orienteering courses and a number of geocache sites are waiting to be discovered.Climbing & BoulderingThere are many fantastic crags for climbing and boulders for bouldering.Mobility Scooters & Wheelchairs
Leeds
Restaurant
Oporto

For many years, Oporto has been a beacon of alternative energy on Leeds’ Call Lane – serving up great food and drink alongside resident DJs and live music.

Manchester
Gallery
Black Redstart Gallery

Black Redstart Gallery is located in the Northern Quarter and runs a busy programme of exhibitions from emerging and established artists.

What's on: Cinema

Culture Guides

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

This season’s theatre is gloriously eclectic: from radical cabaret and reinvented classics to new musicals and boundary-pushing performance.

Detail of an abstract sculpture, with burned materials and rusty chicken wire at the centre, with rusted metal bars bent around it.
Exhibitions in the North

Chocolate fountains, beautiful batiks and medieval marginalia - this month's supersized Exhibitions Guide has it all.

Literature Events in the North

The autumn leaves might be falling already, but the harvest is plentiful as the live literature scene gets back into the swing of things after a summer break...

Cinema in the North

This month we recommend a season of Film noir, cult Australian movies and a huge celebration of DIY community cinema.