Film 'legend' David Lynch lives on in French arthouse cinemas
A "legend of cinema" wrote the César Academy on social media in tribute to American director David Lynch, who passed away at the age of 78 on Thursday. France has a soft spot for the enigmatic artist, whose works are regularly shown in the country's cinemas.
"He is one of the great filmmakers who left their mark on their era, and one we will never forget," the post continued.
Lynch was considered one of American cinema's great auteurs, and was adored by fans and the industry alike. Nominated several times for the Oscars, he received an honorary statuette in 2019 for his career.
His family announced his death via a public statement on Facebook on Thursday. The director had announced last year that he was suffering from emphysema.
Steven Spielberg called Lynch "a singular, visionary dreamer" while Ron Howard hailed him as "a gracious man and fearless artist" who "proved that radical experimentation could yield unforgettable cinema".
Lynch was particularly admired in France, where he won the César award for best foreign film for Mullholland Drive in 2002. His film Wild at Heart starring Laura Dern and Nicolas Cage also won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1990.
Gilles Jacob, former president of the Cannes Film Festival, called Lynch's death "an immense loss and a very serious blow to the future of modern cinema as he conceived his art".
A distinctive universe
It also won a French César award for best foreign film in 1982.
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