Dune

Epic disaster, eccentric experiment, or campy sci-fi masterpiece? Each of these descriptions holds some truth. In Dune, Lynch took on what was long considered the “unfilmable” prose of Frank Herbert, assembling a decadent vision of the events unfolding on the desert planet Arrakis. Brutality blends with mysticism, baroque set design merges with the grotesque imagery of Spice-craving bodies, evoking a psychedelic atmosphere that would become a hallmark of Lynch’s later work. Every character looks like they’ve stepped out of a different fever dream: the floating, bloated Baron Harkonnen feels like a Cronenberg creation, while the innocent-faced Paul Atreides, played by Kyle MacLachlan, is starkly contrasted with Feyd-Rautha, portrayed by Sting – still one of the most surprising casting choices in film history. All of this unfolds to the music of Toto and Brian Eno. Though Lynch’s Dune was a box office flop, and its special effects now invite an ironic smile, this bold and hypnotic vision is well worth surrendering to.

Joanna Najbor

David Lynch (1946 – 2025) – an American director, screenwriter, producer and visual artist, born in Missoula, Montana. He studied painting in Philadelphia, before moving to Los Angeles to make films. He began production on his feature-length debut, Eraserhead, while still a student at the American Film Institute’s Centre for Advanced Film and Television Studies, which initially provided funding for the project. Lynch was one of the most original and influential cinema visionaries. His signature mix of surrealism, genre tropes and experimental narration found favour with a wide audience. Lynch’s films relied heavily on striking visual and soundtrack elements, which always function as integral parts of the complex structure of his works. In addition to directing, he has practised painting, photography, meditation and experimented with new media. A three-time Oscar nominee, Lynch was awarded the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for Wild at Heart (1990).