Does ``Mulholland Drive'', a representative of difficult movies, expose the darkness of Hollywood?

"Mulholland Drive" and "Sunset Boulevard"

The director describes the genre of the film as a love story. However, this was an afterthought after the film was completed, and the director himself probably had no intention of depicting a specific genre. This is certainly a love story, and it depicts homosexuality. Blonde Betty and brunette Rita. Their depictions are reminiscent of the ``lesbian Pulp Fiction'' of the 1950s.

Lesbian literature for the masses flourished during the Fifties, and was established as a genre of cheap pulp magazines. When you look at the covers, you usually see the voluptuous bodies of a brunette woman and a blonde woman. The source of the director's ideas is also a glimpse into popular culture.

"Mulholland Drive" (c)Photofest / Getty Images

Speaking of ideas, this film was inspired by the film `` Sunset Boulevard '' (50), whose title was also the name of a road. ``Sunset Boulevard'' exposes the evil reality of Hollywood from the perspective of a former actress on the decline.

The main character, Joe (William Holden), is an unsuccessful screenwriter who is chased by collectors. One day, trying to escape from a collector, he wanders into the mansion of former silent film actress Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson). Norma was a movie star representing the silent era, but she failed to catch the wave of talkies and disappeared from the public eye. Like Rita Hayworth, this film's Norma Desmond is also a figure trapped in the abyss that is Hollywood.

At the beginning of Mulholland Drive, Rita, injured in a car accident, wanders down a hill and down Sunset Boulevard. Rita then wanders into Ruth's house, and the plot of this incident is similar to the actions of Joe, the main character in Sunset Boulevard.

The same locations will also appear in Mulholland Drive and Sunset Boulevard. This is the white gate of Paramount Studios. Those who dream of Hollywood dream of this arch. Betty, who dreams of becoming a star actress, and Norma, a failing actress. They passed through this gate in the movie. Is it really the path to light or the path to darkness? What lies ahead is one or the other, or both. Hollywood is such a place.

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Movie “Mulholland Drive” theatrical program

Text: Hayato Otsuki

Born in May 1993 in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Writer, editor. He started his writing career in 2016 and currently contributes columns, movie reviews, etc. to various media. By reading the creator's Arrival from a bird's-eye view, we incisively analyze and explain the original intention of the work. His writing publications include "THE RIVER", "IGN Japan", and "Real Sound Movie Club". My specialty is action and fantasy.

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