One of Montreal’s most beloved theatres, Cinéma du Parc, is currently screening the filmography of late filmmaker David Lynch for their “Parc at Midnight” series. The retrospective, named David Lynch: In Our Dreams, began on March 7 and ends on April 27.
Since launching in 2017, the theatre’s “Parc at Midnight” series has established a dedicated fanbase. Initially screening films at 11:30 p.m. (hence the name), the event now offers more accessible showtimes: Fridays and Saturdays at 9:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
Jean-François Lamarche, the theatre’s programming director, spoke to The Tribune regarding the series’ origin.
“‘Parc at Midnight’ was this idea of bringing back the nostalgia of [cult] films and this kind of feeling for people to see these films late [at] night,” he said.
The theatre had initially been preparing other programs for the upcoming edition of the series but decided it was only right to pay homage to Lynch following his recent passing. His death on Jan. 16 was devastating for many film lovers, including Lamarche, who has considered the filmmaker a key influence throughout his life.
“I’m still mourning, you know,” he said. “I’ve been listening to all his [film’s] music since then. I have a lot of his soundtracks on vinyl.”
The theatre is screening the films in the order in which Lamarche first encountered them. His introduction to Lynch’s work came by chance when he stumbled upon a VHS copy of Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me at a local video store. Intrigued by the film’s cover, he watched it over and over again, utterly astonished and bewildered by Lynch’s unconventional style.
“I think I watched it twice or three times back to back,” he recalled. “It was really a revelation. I never saw anything like that. It was brand new.”
That moment marked the beginning of Lamarche’s lifelong fascination with Lynch. During his cinema studies at Cégep, his appreciation for Lynch deepened. Whether it was watching Blue Velvet at a local cinema or hunting down a hard-to-come-by VHS copy of Eraserhead, Lamarche became absorbed into Lynch’s surrealist world.
Jean-François even recalls how, in 2006, Lynch’s final feature film, Inland Empire, helped keep the theatre afloat by attracting a large turnout. Lynch, he says, is perhaps the most adored filmmaker at Cinéma du Parc, by audience and staff alike.
“It’s like, for Cinéma du Parc, David Lynch is a rockstar,” he told The Tribune. “After the screenings, it’s really like a rock show. People are standing in line to buy merchandise to have a memory of him at home.”
“[Lynch’s] legacy is in the ability to dream,” audience member Mark Paterson said in an interview with //The Tribune//. “I think that his films are going to be something that we can always go back to and see what’s possible.”
Another attendee, Lucile Gazquez, reflected on the ongoing relevance of Lynch’s work.
“Because we are in a violent world right now, what I like—like we see in the end of Blue Velvet—is that in violence, we still have hope,” she said.
Consistently selling out, the screenings have received overwhelming enthusiasm, drawing fans of all ages eager to admire Lynch’s films on the big screen.
“There’s a lot of people who are discovering David Lynch now,” Lamarche said. “So this is incredible, you know. There’s a younger generation that is discovering this incredible movie maker.”
With each screening, Cinéma du Parc keeps Lynch’s unforgettable vision alive. The retrospective is a heartfelt tribute to the beloved filmmaker, celebrating his unique style and lasting influence on cinema, ensuring his legacy lives on.
David Lynch: In Our Dreams is screening until April 27 at Cinéma du Parc. Tickets are available online: Student tickets are $11.00 CAD, and general admission tickets are $15.25 CAD.
