‘Twin Peaks: The Return’ To Screen At MoMA, Reigniting Futile TV Vs. Film Argument
If you have yet to witnessDavid Lynch’s stunning, unclassifiableTwin Peaks: The Return, here’s some good news: New York City’s Museum of Modern Art is going to screen the full 18 hours of the limited event series for free. It’s part of a series on “the year’s finest films,” a classification that will likely reignite the never-resolved TV vs. Film argument that’s surrounded the revival. More news on theTwin PeaksMoMA screening is below.
IsTwin Peaks: The Returna movie or a TV show? The obvious answer seems to be TV, but not so fast! Some publications, likeSight & SoundandCahiers Du Cinema, have dared to includeTwin Peakson their Best Movies of 2017 lists, and even David Lynch himself has likened the project to that of a film. The go-to argument against this is that sinceTwin Peaks: The Returndidn’t play in a movie theater, it can’t be considered a film. Now the folks at MoMA have decided to complicate things further by screening all 18 hours ofTwin Peaks: The Returnon the big screen, thus ensuring this futile TV vs. Film argument will never die.
According toVulture, the Museum of Modern Art will screen “Part 1” through “Part 4” ofTwin Peaks: The Revivalon January 5; “Part 5” through “Part 11” on January 6; and “Part 12” through “Part 18” on January 7. Best of all: the screenings will be free. All it will cost you is time, and also good dreams, because after you see some of these episodes you’re going to be plagued with nightmares.
I personally don’t have a dog in the TV vs. Film battle. I think I’d lean more towards the TV side, but if you want to go ahead and callTwin Peaks: The Returna film, then by all means, go right ahead. I do think watchingTwin Peaks: The Returnin a theater would be pretty damn cool, though – many of Lynch’s visuals for the show practically scream to be seen on a big screen.
No matter where you fall on the TV vs. Film argument, the bottom line is thatTwin Peaks: The Returnwas one of 2017’s most incredible pieces of narrative storytelling. Rather to adhere to fan service and pick up where the originalTwin PeaksTV series left off, David Lynch crafted a strange, haunting, funny, terrifying experience that defied almost all classifications and expectations. If you truly have managed to avoid it until now and are able to attend the MoMA screenings, I’d strongly recommend you take advantage of this free opportunity.
