Symbolism in Mulholland Dr. (2001)
Mulholland Dr. is a film written and directed by David Lynch. Its main actresses are, Naomi Watts, Laura Elena Harring, Justin Theroux, Ann Miller, Dan Hedaya, Robert Forster, Melissa George. "Mulholland Drive (film) -." The movie seems to symbolism the horrors and manipulations of Hollywood. In Mulholland Dr. the characters represent pieces of the Hollywood lifestyle. Rita (Laura Elena Harring) represents the seductions of Hollywood. Betty Elms (Naomi Watts) represents innocence in Hollywood, and how that can be a disaster, and what it leads too. Also some minor characters play a big role in Mulholland Dr. The elderly couple in the beginning of the movie portray the false advertisement of the movie business. Many objects have symbols in Mulholland Dr. Colors also represent many things in this movie. The blue box and blue key represent the truth, and the key to the truth. When Rita and Betty go to club Silencio Rita and Betty are told that everything is an illusion. The box opens up the truth. Mulholland Dr. is a very twisted movie with lots of hidden clues.

Characters are a big part of the David Lynch movie. “Mulholland Dr. (2001) dramatizes this instability through character doubling when its two characters become mirror images of each other… fundamental notions about character coherence and stability are undetermined ” (Corrigan, Timothy 242). Diane, who is characterized be Betty Elms in the beginning of the movie ultimately wants fame. However she is a lot like Rita, or known later as Camilla Rhodes. They both share some of the same personality traits like they are both actresses. They are also both confused throughout most of the movie. But each of the characters represent something different. Betty is a new soul in Hollywood. She does not know that much and she is very naïve. Betty symbolizes the many new faces in Hollywood. She is so naïve she lets a person (Rita) that she does not know into her life. Even one of the characters prophesize that Rita is trouble.

“Betty Elms: [opens door] Yes? May I help you?
Louise Bonner: Someone is in trouble. Who are you? What are you doing in Ruth's apartment?,
Betty Elms: She's letting me stay here. I'm her niece. My name's Betty.
Louise Bonner: No, it's not. That's not what she said. Someone is in trouble. Something bad is happening!” "Mulholland Dr. (2001) - Memorable quotes."


Rita (Laura Elena Harring) represents something completely different. She embodies the seduction of Hollywood. She seduces the innocent Betty Elms, as shown in the love scene between the two. She stares Betty off the path of her chance of fame during the move. Betty misses an audition to help Rita figure out her past. She also puts Betty in danger because of her unknown past. The happy old couple also symbolizes the false happiness of Hollywood. They cheer Betty on as they tell her that she is going to make it big, and to remember them. “Irene: Well, it's time to say good-bye, Betty. It's been so nice traveling with you. Betty Elms: Thank you, Irene. I was so excited and nervous. It was sure great to have you to talk to. Irene: Remember, I'll be watching for you on the big screen” "Mulholland Dr. (2001) - Memorable quotes". They are constantly grinning ear to ear. Then at the end of the movie when Betty is Diane, they appear in Diane’s house and torment her by laughing in her face. Then Diane shoots herself because her dream is just a big joke, and there is only fake happiness in Hollywood.

There are also many other objects and color schemes that help show representations. Throughout the whole movie, Rita wears red. The color red “is associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love” ("Color Wheel Pro: Color Meaning.") Rita is seen as the seduction of Hollywood so she is never seen without the color red. The director Adam is constantly in black and “black is a mysterious color associated with fear and the unknown” ("Color Wheel Pro: Color Meaning"). Also in the beginning of the movie a phone is in a dark room, which helps show the mystery of the phone call. Most of the mysterious parts of this movie are in black.

Club Silencio is a big break through in the movie Mulholland Dr. When Rita wakes up yelling, “Silencio, silencio, silencio, silencio” She asks Betty to go to club Silencio with her. It is on a dark abandoned street. Once there Betty gets really bad body shakes once the main performer says, “It is an illusion.” The club pretty much focused on how everything was an illusion. Also at the club Silencio a woman performer, Rebekah del Rio, sings a song in Spanish, the song is Crying, by Roy Orbison. There Betty and Rita find the blue box, which they have the blue key for. There they find out the truth about all of their lives and who they really are. (Mulholland Dr.)



Mulholland Dr. is a movie filled with mystery. However, if you look at the different symbolisms and can guess what the story is about. Each character represents something different. Just like the many objects in the movie. But you do get the truth from the box of truths.