Wild at Heart: A Psychological Review
David Lynch said that the film’s main theme was, ‘finding love in Hell’. Let’s examine this Wizard of Oz-influenced road movie.
“For me, it’s just a compilation of ideas that come along. The darker ones and the lighter ones, the humorous ones, all working together. You try to be as true as you can to those ideas and try to get them on film.’” — David Lynch.
David Lynch’s 1990 film “Wild at Heart” is a captivating and somewhat disturbing journey into the depths of human emotion, where love and obsession, freedom and control, violence and surrealism collide in a symphony of psychological turmoil.
The film, based on Barry Gifford’s novel of the same name, is a whirlwind of surreal imagery, dark humor, passionate romance and more Wizard of Oz references that you can shake a scarecrow at.
Buckle up then as we take a psychological look at the main themes of Lynch’s bizarre road movie.
Love and obsession
‘As to what it’s about, ‘Wild at Heart’ is about finding love in Hell — which might be a theme in all my movies. This particular Hell is modern life.’ — David Lynch.
At the very heart of “Wild at Heart” beats the tumultuous relationship between Sailor Ripley (Nicholas Cage), a rebellious ex-convict, and Lula Fortune (Laura Dern), his fiery and independent girlfriend.
Their love is an intense and passionate affair, bordering on obsession. They are drawn to each other like moths to a flame, their lives intertwined in a delicate dance of fascination and fury.
Sailor’s love for Lula is all-consuming, a driving motivation that propels him forward despite the dangers and obstacles that stand in their way, in particular Lula’s mother.
He is willing to risk everything, even his own life, to protect and maintain their relationship.
Lula is captivated by Sailor’s rebellious spirit and his unwavering devotion to her. She sees in him a freedom she longs for, a chance to escape the constraints of society and live life on her own terms.
What’s odd however is that Sailor’s sense of freedom is a bit off. For a man who loves freedom so much he certainly spends far too much time in and out of prison and he admits that his snakeskin jacket ‘represents a symbol of my individuality and my belief in personal freedom’.
We’re left wondering since it just represents a symbol, where’s the actual symbol or does Sailor actually understand there’s a difference?
Sailor longs for what he thinks is freedom because his life is a chaotic mess, he longs for a sense of control over life, something he thinks he can achieve alongside Lula.
Their love is not without its dark side. Their intense passion manifests itself in bouts of jealousy, violence, and possessiveness. They are trapped in a cycle of love and hate, their relationship never far from teetering over and tumbling into the abyss.
Add into this mix Lula’s obsessed and jealous mother Marietta Fortune (Diane Ladd) who is bedeviled with keeping them apart. This is revealed early on as she hires an assassin to kill Sailor. Sailor however kills him and he’s carted off to prison, for the first time.
Freedom and control
Sailor and Lula’s journey is not just a physical one; it is also a metaphorical quest for freedom from the forces that seek to control them. They are constantly battling against societal norms, family expectations, and the dangers that threaten to derail their escape.
Sailor’s rebellious nature makes him an outsider, constantly at odds with authority figures and the constraints of society. He yearns for a life outside the boundaries of convention, a world where he can be true to himself.
Sailor’s main problem though is that the poor chap is, well, he’s terribly dumb. He kills the man that Marietta sends to kill him. When he gets out of prison he breaks his parole terms immediately and ends up robbing a store with another man who’s been hired by Marietta to kill him. Bobby (Willem Defoe), also almost rapes Lula, bringing back memories of a traumatic childhood experience.
The robbery goes south, Bobby ends up dead and Sailor’s carted off, again, to prison. On his release he tells Lula and his son (who was born while he was inside) that he won’t go with them, as they’d be better off without him. Only then he’s accosted by some youths and is knocked unconscious. He then has a vision where finally he comes to his senses and when he wakes up, he chases down Lula and his son.
Over the film, Lula, too, seeks freedom from the expectations of her controlling mother and the stifling norms of her Southern upbringing. She dreams of a life without limits, a chance to forge her own path.
Their journey takes them through a series of surreal and dangerous encounters, each testing their resolve and pushing them to their breaking points. They face threats of violence, imprisonment, and even death, yet their determination to escape and be together remains unwavering.
Their lives might be flawed, their situation even more so, even their love is flawed but one thing they share wholeheartedly is their love for each other.
Violence and surrealism
Lynch’s signature blend of violence and surrealism permeates every aspect of “Wild at Heart.” The film is punctuated by jarring violence, often graphic and shocking, yet strangely stylized and unreal. This juxtaposition of the mundane and the grotesque creates a sense of disorientation and unease, reflecting the psychological turmoil of the characters.
The surrealism is further enhanced by Lynch’s use of dreamlike imagery, bizarre characters, and unpredictable plot twists. The film often feels like a fever dream, as we descend into the depths of the psyche of the main characters.
This blending of violence and surrealism serves to heighten the emotional impact of the film.
The violence becomes more disturbing when it is set against the backdrop of the bizarre and surreal, and the surrealism becomes more unsettling when it is juxtaposed with the harsh realities of violence and danger.
The Wizard of Oz
Within the narrative of “Wild at Heart,” there are subtle yet striking parallels to the classic film “The Wizard of Oz.” Lula can be seen as a modern-day Dorothy, seeking a place to belong and a way to escape the confines of her life. Sailor, in turn, embodies aspects of Dorothy’s companions: he is physically strong but emotionally vulnerable, lacks sophistication, and his capacity for love is limited to devotion.
Marietta is obviously the evil witch trying to destroy their relationship so she can control Lula.
Their journey, much like Dorothy’s, is a quest for self-discovery and transformation. They must confront their inner demons, overcome obstacles, and learn to navigate the complexities of love and relationships.
Just like Victor Fleming’s 1939 film (which itself was an allegory about the demonetization of silver in 1873 and how paper money would lead to all-out greed) along the way, they discover hidden strengths and vulnerabilities, gradually shedding the personas they have adopted to survive in a harsh world.
Finding love in Hell
Lynch has described the central theme of “Wild at Heart” as “finding love in Hell.” This statement encapsulates the intense and paradoxical nature of Sailor and Lula’s relationship. Their love is a force that propels them forward, despite the dangers and contradictions that surround them.
Their journey through the highs and lows of human emotion, marked by violence, obsession, and the struggle for freedom, is a testament to the enduring power of love.
In a world that can often feel chaotic and unforgiving, their love serves as a beacon of hope, a reminder that even in the darkest of places and in the most bizarre of chaotic situations love is ever present.
Hi, I’m Paddy. Thanks for reading my article. I’m a counselor, coach and meditation teacher.
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