Wild at Heart: Love on the Edge of Reality
Sailor and Lula, two lovers, travel across the United States being chased by numerous and diverse characters hired by Lula’s mother. It is a story about forbidden love, their transformation into criminals, a serial killer and a criminal, a moment of passion in their escape, and is filled with Lynch’s signature surrealism. Lynch’s way of utilizing surrealist elements distorts reality and constantly increases tension in the film.
Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern provided outstanding performances as two lovers Sailor and Lula full of rebellion and passion. The supporting characters such as Diane Ladd and Willem Dafoe contribute to the quirkiness of the film by the way they choose to portray themselves all the more making the film that much addictive as a classic road movie with a touch of David Lynch. This is also especially striking: when making people feel uncomfortable while simultaneously whetting their appetites with desire. Together, they help to create a surreal and sometimes eerie mood to the movie.
In terms of the aesthetics, the movie is quite accurately impressing through the use of bright colors and distinct art direction and cinematography which reflect the delicate beauty of the characters’ journey as well as hint at the dark aspect of the protagonists’ personalities. Cinematography by Frederick with Lynch rewards the film ‘Wild at Heart’ with a very surreal experience throughout the movie.
In terms of set designs or setting it reflects the variation between normal and abnormal life. Cars, seedy motels and interiors are depicted to create a surreal setting for the movie.|While the film is not very heavy on effects, it uses quality and well placed effects that bring surrealism in the movie without overwhelming the plot.|Edited by Duwayne Dunham the movie has a turbulent pace that cuts between calm moments and action scenes. The use of a nonlinear timeline adds to the tension and unpredictable nature of the film.
The tempo of ‘Wild at Heart’ is rather irregular and does not follow the real-time continuous narrative, and this irregularity is correct as it depicts a turbulent passion in the hearts of the characters. Most of the shots are lengthy and slow-motion, a sharp contrast to the rapid and brutal violence of the nominee’s plot.
The dialogues use poetic and vulgarisms at the same time reflecting the sensitive and the criminal sides of Sailor and Lula’s relations. Lynch has worked some of them into the film for sure — that is bordering on priceless But here is where some key lines were read by Lynch. Others may often consider the plot confusing or may not be able to understand the symbolic intent behind some surrealistic scenes. However, for those who are ready to open the door of the new world according to Lynch perception, the series reveals an incredible experience.
Observing ‘Wild at Heart’ was like watching a brilliant trip to the world of Lynch with every scene filled with passion and elegance of emotions. While it dares to tell a story in its own unique way, and there is something unique about that which leaves you thinking about it for days after the end credits.
