Sixteenth Annual Twin Peaks/David Lynch Festival: the Elephant Man July 25, 2008

The film is based on the writing of Dr. Frederick Treves (Anthony Hopkins) who, in 19th-century London, encountered the stunningly misshapen, downtrodden figure of John Merrick (John Hurt). With grace and delicacy, Lynch shows how Treves rescued Merrick from his hellish life as a carnival freak and housed him in the London Hospital. Merrick is thought to be deaf and mute, but Treves discovers the man's voice and learns that an intelligent, sweet, sensitive and romantic soul flows within Merrick's burden of flesh. Merrick has been horribly mistreated, but under Treves's care he blossoms, delighting and humbling the cream of Victorian society with his wonder-struck, childlike innocence.