"The Tender Boughs of Innocence Burn First": An Analysis of 'Fire Walk With Me' 25 Years Later
Twenty-five years after its initial release, the Twin Peaks pseudo-prequel remains an emotionally riveting tale about a young woman's loss of innocence.
By: Josh McCormack
On August 29th, I attended a local Asheville screening of David Lynch's initially maligned Twin Peaks prequel, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. The screening was filled with a large group of enthusiastic Twin Peaks fans who loved the film and wanted the chance to see it on the big screen. In addition to the film's apologists, there were others (like myself) who always felt the film was lacking something that made the original series so enjoyable to watch. With this screening I was attending to see if there was something I was missing when I initially watched Fire Walk With Me.
With the new, polarizing revival series coming to a close this week it also felt important to re-familiarize myself with the lore of Fire Walk With Me since Lynch seems to be arguably more focused on the plot threads from the film rather than the original television series.
What initially began as more of a research project on my part actually wound up turning into something else entirely. All of my issues I had with the film on my first viewing, from the humorless tone to the plot inconsistencies with the original show, all seemed mute. Over the course of Fire Walk With Me's 135-minute runtime, amongst fellow Lynch fans in a small screening room, I was able to look at the film for what it was; a tragic account of a young woman's loss of innocence as a result of abuse, and how she must come to terms with her dark fate.
The opening thirty minutes of Fire Walk With Me focus on a completely different set of characters outside the town of Twin Peaks, and quite honestly it's the weakest part of the film. While a quirky sense of humor is far more apparent in the opening act than it is in the rest of the film, the new FBI characters played by Chris Isaak and Kiefer Sutherland and their attempt to solve the mystery of Teresa Banks' murder in the town of Deer Meadows just feels bloated and, honestly, quite boring. Even the return of David Lynch's Gordon Cole and the iconic Dale Cooper (of course played by Kyle McLachlan) just doesn't seem all that interesting. And while it does introduce plot threads that would become integral to the plot of the new Twin Peaks revival (David Bowie's Phillip Jeffries, "The Blue Rose", and Harry Dean Stanton's character), these sequences don't offer anything to the overall point of the film.
However, the second Laura Palmer appears on screen holding her textbooks, walking to Twin Peaks High with Angelo Badalamenti's familiar theme music playing over her, the film begins to shine.
Laura Palmer's story is a tragic one. One with an inevitable conclusion that fans of the show had already come to expect. Upon its initial release the incredibly somber atmosphere left the majority of fans and critics feeling cold and that dictated the way many felt about the entire film. However, as Lynch himself said in a 2003 interview "I can understand that [the criticism]. But it was Laura Palmer's life, and that wasn't a pleasant life".
The unpleasant life of Laura Palmer is depicted almost from the instant we see her on screen in Fire Walk With Me. Lynch puts Laura through the wringer throughout the entire film. While the original director's cut had more scenes of what Laura was like before her drug abuse and frightening relationship with her father Leland (played brilliantly by Ray Wise) the final cut showcases her as a beautiful mess right from the get-go.
Her cocaine habit is nearing an addiction. She is playing with the emotions of the young men in her life. Her best friend is in jeopardy as a result of her actions. And she is prostituting in the dark underbelly of the seemingly friendly Washington State town.
Image: Vimeo
While these dark aspects of Laura were mentioned on the television series and did provide clues to her fate, they almost seemed to be brushed off by many of the characters as nothing other than an indication that Laura Palmer was a typical high school troublemaker. Yet, in the film we look at Laura's dangerous lifestyle as an escape from something far worse.
The infamous evil entity known as BOB (once again played by Frank Silva) has already been making his way into Laura's life by terrorizing her, wanting to possess her and use her body as a vessel to destroy those closest to her. As fans of the series know, BOB attempts to accomplish this by taking over the body of Laura's father Leland.
What's surprising in the film is how uncomfortably deep Lynch delves into the way BOB preys on Laura. The addition of a familial sexual abuse aspect between Laura and her father (being controlled by an evil entity, mind you) makes the film seem more frighteningly realistic in a fictional world that revels in stylized exaggeration.
With this knowledge, our sympathies for Laura and her dangerous life choices only seem to broaden. She's a damaged young woman who will do anything to escape from her nightmarish home life whether it's drugs, sex, or alcohol.
Sheryl Lee's truly incredible performance really drives this point home in the film as well. Minus a few video clips and other-worldly sequences, Lee only had the chance to play Laura as a corpse in the original series. Yet, with Fire Walk With Me she practically IS the film. Lynch puts the camera close to her face many times and will linger on her for minutes on end with no dialogue, and the damage and helplessness of Laura comes across so well due to Sheryl Lee's facial expressions alone.
In what may be my favorite sequence of the film, Laura is on her way to the Roadhouse bar when she is stopped by the late Catherine Coulson reprising her fan-favorite character, "The Log Lady". "The Log Lady" places her hand on top of Laura's head and speaks to her in one of her trademark riddles.
"When this kind of fire starts, it is very hard to put out. The tender boughs of innocence burn first, and the wind rises, and then all goodness is in jeopardy,"
"The Log Lady" leaves Laura to ponder on this quote, and Laura stumbles into the bar witnessing Julee Cruise (a Lynch favorite) singing a beautifully haunting ballad. The camera focuses intensely on Laura's face as she takes in the lyrics of the song, the riddle of "The Log Lady", where her life is at this very moment, and the only way her suffering can end.
She breaks down and begins crying.
What makes Laura so engaging throughout the remainder of the film is that she knows she is damaged. She pushes away her friends and the people she loves in an attempt to keep them out of harm's way. When her best friend Donna tries to follow in her footsteps at a rock and roll fueled sex dungeon known as "The Pink Room" (which features the most badass Angelo Badalamenti soundtrack, by the way), Laura comes to her rescue emotionally begging Donna not to be like her. She even pushes away the one man she truly loves, James Hurley (another series regular), in an attempt to keep him safe.
Yet, Laura's most selfless action is her sacrifice. Laura is able to fight the spirit of BOB so that he cannot take over her body, which eventually leads to her murder. The flashy cuts, screaming, and choral soundtrack make this a moment that is incredibly operatic. Lynch seems to be making it clear that Laura is a Christ figure; sacrificing herself for not only her good, but for the good of those she loves.
In the end Laura is in the mythical Black Lodge with Dale Cooper. She sees an angel float above her, and for the first time in the entire film she seems truly happy.
For the moment she is free. The suffering is over.
David Lynch's Fire Walk With Me is a serviceable prequel to the original Twin Peaks series, but it works better when you look at it on its own terms and appreciate it for the kind of film it is; a spiritual tragedy of an abused young woman who finds peace through sacrifice.
This film only capitalizes on how integral Laura is to the series' mythology. Laura Palmer began this wonderful and strange journey through Twin Peaks, and I have a feeling that this Sunday on Showtime she is going to play an essential part in ending that journey.
In the words of "The Log Lady": Laura is the one.
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