David Lynch's recent departure invites us to remember his cinematic legacy, a genius whose ability to portray the dark, the dreamlike and the sublime redefined contemporary cinema. Lynch, the master behind Eraserhead, Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks, had an unexpected link with Mexico, a little known but fascinating chapter of his career: the filming of Dune in the eighties. It is a fact that, as a Mexican and a fan of the director, never ceases to thrill me. Yes, Arrakis, the desert planet of spices and intergalactic wars, came to life thanks to the landscapes and studios of our country.
When Mexico became Arrakis
To speak of Dune is to speak of a cinematic epic as ambitious as it is problematic. Based on Frank Herbert's monumental novel, Lynch's adaptation was born in the mythical Churubusco Studios in Mexico City. It was here that the interiors that gave life to the complex noble houses of the Atreides and the Harkonnen were built, as well as the settings for the intricate political and spiritual intrigues of Herbert's universe.
But Lynch didn't stay in the capital alone: the desert exteriors of Dune were shot in the imposing Samalayuca Dunes, in Chihuahua. These sand formations, shaped by centuries of wind, were the ideal backdrop for depicting the endless, desolate landscape of Arrakis. Despite the extreme heat and logistical complications, the dunes provided a visual authenticity that remains memorable.
The battle between art and production
The production of Dune was legendary for its challenges, something Lynch himself described as one of the most difficult experiences of his career. Filmed under the shadow of enormous expectations and with constant pressure from producer Dino De Laurentiis, Lynch had to face decisions that went against his own artistic vision.
It is estimated that the filming mobilized more than 1,700 people in Mexico, including local and international technicians. Estudios Churubusco, with its vast infrastructure, was transformed into a hotbed of creativity and chaos. The model of the sand worm - a centerpiece of the film - was gigantic, measuring more than 12 meters, and required weeks of assembly and testing to work properly.
In a famous anecdote, the crew famously nicknamed one of the exterior sets "the dead dog dump," due to the poor condition it was in before the team transformed it into a filmic landscape worthy of the Dune universe. Those technical difficulties and the struggle to maintain creative integrity are part of the film's legend.
Mexican talent on camera
Something that is rarely mentioned is how Lynch incorporated Mexican talent both in front of and behind the cameras. Actors such as Claudia Ramirez, Angelica Aragon and Humberto Elizondo had small but significant roles in the film. In addition, hundreds of Mexican extras participated in the massive scenes, from the Fremen troops to the Sardaukar armies.
An undeniable legacy
Although Dune was not the success Lynch and his team had hoped for - it was criticized for its dense narrative and clipped editing - over time it has gained cult status. The images of the desert landscapes, the opulence of the noble houses and the intricacy of the designs are testament to a titanic effort that could not have happened without Mexico as a co-star.
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Personally, to know that the iconic sandworms surfed our dunes or that the imposing houses of Arrakis came to life in our Churubusco Studios fills me with that curious pride you feel when Mexico is put on a high, which is seldom associated with films of this magnitude. David Lynch, a filmmaker who understood like few others the connection between the tangible and the dreamlike, left an indelible mark on cinema and, without knowing it, on our magical Mexico.
Perhaps, upon re-watching the film, we can imagine the dunes of Samalayuca not only as Arrakis, but as a testament to how Mexico, once again, helped bring to life one of cinema's most ambitious stories.