David Lynch: The Art Life is a 2016 documentary film directed by Jon Nguyen. The film follows director David Lynch's upbringing in Montana, Washington State, and Idaho, his initial move to Philadelphia to pursue a career as a painter, to the beginning of the production of Eraserhead.[3]
Production
David Lynch: The Art Life was made over four years as the filmmakers filmed and recorded over 20 conversations with Lynch at his home.[4] The staff of the film had previously collaborated on making the film Lynch One, which was about the making of Inland Empire.[2]
The film received production through a Kickstarter campaign.[4]
Release
Prior to the films premiere, Film Constellation purchased the world sales rights to The Art Life.[4]David Lynch: The Art Life premiered at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2016.[5][3] The film received a limited release domestically on March 31, 2017.[6]
On the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, The Art Life currently holds a 91% approval rating, based on 77 reviews, with an average rating of 7.4/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "David Lynch: The Art Life offers a look at the director's life and craft whose unusual approach is in keeping with its subject's singularly strange aesthetic."[8] On Metacritic, the film received a rating of 75 out of 100, based on 17 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[9]
