Most writers conclude that since Mulholland Drive emerged and went three quarters in the can as a failed TV pilot that there can really be no conclusive, cohesive plot, story or meaning to Mulholland Drive "the movie" and that it is intrinsically a jumble of messed up stuff but I say...I don't know, which is actually probably the best guess right?

Naomi Watts claims that during her time working on the movie, she relentlessly pumped Lynch for information regarding the plot and story and that Lynch relentlessly stonewalled. My experience of David Lynch is that by nature- he has no secrets so I'm thinking that there really isn't any definitive answer and that we are stroking ourselves silly but I can't help it- by nature, I am a sucker for mysteries and puzzles so if some of you here wouldn't mind bringing me up to speed as far as best guesses and best theories. Are there any that are generally accepted as being a good fit?

I've kind of been working off the assumption that the movie has a variable POV beginning with Diane flashing back her moment of glory as the jitterbug queen, then coming back to reality, she goes to bed in a state of utter melancholy and escapes into the dream about Betty and Rita then is woken up by her nieghbor who tells her that the two detectives are looking for her so, in a moment of desperation and guilt; she shoots herself- silencio.

I think some of Lynch's so called "clues" are metaphysical red herrings. The location of Aunt Ruth in particular. Canada? What the hell? Yeah, both Betty Elms and Diane S. claim to be from Deep River, Ontario or Canada but so what? What does Aunt Ruth's going to Canada to work on a movie have to do with anything. She could've gone to Singapore or Montana for that matter right and the fact that we see Aunt Ruth entering the bedroom, dressed in the same outfit she had on the morning she supposedly left for Canada to find the lights on and the mysterious blue box laying on the floor kind of suggests that Aunt Ruth isn't just a figment of Diane's imagination- oh, geez. I don't know.

I have watched the movie over a hundred times and I am now looking for a bit of closure. I want to compile my personal experience of the movie and move on to the mysteries of Crazy Clown Time and Rabbits but I would love to have some of you who have actively been working on solving this surrealistic menage a trois noir murder mystery share some of your best case notes and leads.

X

Patrick

Patrick you said, "I think some of Lynch's so called "clues" are metaphysical red herrings." So I assume that you want the opinions of those who believe that the "clues" have some significance. So the following are my "answers". I know that most people on here disagree with most of them, but you asked, so here goes:

1. Pay particular attention to the beginning of the film: At least two clues are revealed before the credits
The dancing of grown men with young girls is a metaphor for the sexual abuse which the film is about and the pillow and breathing sound tell us that the story is going to be told through a dream (and will therefore be abstract)

2. Notice appearances of the red lampshade
No idea on this one. Got to look at this again!

3. Can you hear the title of the film that Adam Kesher is auditioning actresses for? Is it mentioned again?
Sylvia North Story sounds like "silly north story". It could be something that Diane says when she wants to make up a back story which cuts out her abused past. That is she pretends to have arrived from somewhere in the north (Cananda).

4.An accident is a terrible event … Notice the location of the accident
The accident was not really a road accident. (Remember that we are in an abstract dream). When Dan collapses behind Winkies, we hear Herbs voice muffled, as if heard underwater. So I'll go for the swimming pool. This would explain why the pool cleaner turned up at the house (in the dream).

5. Who gives a key, and why?

Coco gives the key to Betty (in the dream). But that is just an abstract representation. I know that this will seem weird, but Joe allows himself to be pick pocketed of the (real) blue key by an inmate of a prison in which he works. Just as the prostitute takes the cigarette out of his pocket (the abstract part). Notice how the other guy in the scene distracts you. The key is used to escape from the jail by the inmate who breaks into Diane's apartment while she is sleeping (and dreaming) and leaves it on her table. We even see this person look at Diane just before she wakes. (This person is Aunt Ruth aka Camilla, the person who originally sexually abused Diane).

I'll post the other half tomorrow. I apologize to those who have heard this before, but Patrick asked, and this reply is for him.

hey, I just wrote a rather lengthy reply but when I submitted it; I was redirected to a log on page (grrr) and when I got back here it was gone- sorry. It's totally time for bed now...

laters

hi patrick,
i don't think most people think mulholland drive has no story or meaning. as i understand it, this was just the opinion of some critics when mulholland drive was released.
if you want to get to know more about behind mulholland drive, the most common theories of what people think the movie means are listed on this site, http://www.mulholland-drive.net/studies/theories.htm
i found these theories to be really helpful.
there is also a kind of "standard" theory now that - it seems - a lot of people agree on, which is that the first half of the movie is a dream while the second half is real (this is a bit of a short summary of this theory). on this forum / site you can find deeper information on that theory.