A sometimes misunderstood genius, David Lynch passed away at the age of 78 on Thursday, January 16, 2025. This news devastated film lovers all around the world, as this remarkable man has truly marked our era. From his 10 films, including the heartbreaking Elephant Man, the cult classics Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive, and the masterpiece TV series Twin Peaks, the American director certainly made his mark!
In Paris, from the Cinémathèque Française to the Filmothèque at the Quartier Latin and the Grand Rex, many cinema venues in Paris highlight David Lynch's work with regular retrospectives and special screenings. But this great man doesn’t just influence the dark rooms of the capital; he has truly left indelible marks on all Parisian lives. Let’s take a look back at five memorable moments of his time in Paris.
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designed a legendary nightclub in the 2nd
Entirely designed and decorated by the director in 2011, the Silencio is a true Lynchian temple right in the heart of Paris. Located in the undergrounds of 142, rue Montmartre, its name notably references the iconic club seen and loved in Mulholland Drive. A hybrid place fully dedicated to art, music, and cinema, of course, that perfectly reflects the mystical universe of the director and today attracts crowds and international stars.
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Silence
142, rue Montmartre – 2nd floor
He shared an artist studio in the 14th
In addition to his filmmaking talents, David Lynch was a truly accomplished artist throughout his life, dabbling in painting, drawing, photography, and music. It was actually in a studio in the Montparnasse district that the director honed some of his techniques. Similarly, the 1,400 m² glass-roofed studio located in an old Parisian printing house – which has hosted lithographic works from greats like Matisse, Picasso, Miró, and Chagall – is a vibrant meeting place for both French and international artists. A new generation of contemporary artists has kept the spirit of this place alive, as well as the technique of lithography, alongside David Lynch, Jean-Michel Alberola, Sophie Calle, JR, Izumi Kato, Paul McCarthy...
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Atelier Idem Paris
49, rue du Montparnasse – 14th
He exhibited his works at the Fondation Cartier
We’re telling you: art in a broad sense played a major role in Lynch's life and defined all his activities. After many years of perfecting his drawing and painting skills, the filmmaker presented his very first retrospective in France in 2007. Paintings, drawings, photographs, sound installations… With the exhibition The Air is on Fire, David Lynch ignited the Fondation Cartier and immersed Parisians in the intimacy of his creative universe and complex imagination.
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View of the David Lynch exhibition, The Air is on Fire, Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris, 2007. © Patrick Gries
Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain
261, boulevard Raspail – 14th
He Played at the Olympia
Because he obviously touches on everything, David Lynch has also showcased his musical talents in some wonderful venues around the world, including the iconic Olympia in Paris. Alongside John Neff – a friend and sound engineer – Lynch presented his experimental album BlueBOB, which blends blues and rock with lyrics that are just as paranoid as they are dark. It's another reflection of his unique universe!
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The Olympia
28, boulevard des Capucines – 9th
He filmed a scene from Twin Peaks in Paris
In 2017, viewers got to enjoy the return of Twin Peaks on screen. A third season – which didn’t do so well, let’s be honest – isn’t a spin-off or a reboot, but a continuation of this tragic story that stopped in 1991. So, it’s 26 years later that the story picks up again, still featuring Kyle Maclachlan and Sheryl Lee. But this time, we step away from the gloomy atmosphere of Twin Peaks and head to Montana, Las Vegas, New York, and even Paris, where FBI agent Gordon Cole (played by David Lynch himself) meets Monica Bellucci on a terrace in the 14th arrondissement.
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Twin Peaks
Available on myCanal and Amazon Prime
