David Lynch, the iconic director known for his unusual and profound films such as Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive, recently shared a personal story about his health, which changed after years of smoking. Lynch said that he started smoking as a child, when he was only 8 years old. This bad habit eventually led to a serious disease — emphysema of the lungs. The director, who is now 78 years old, openly admits that he does not regret his addiction to tobacco, despite the fact that it has now cost him dearly to his health.
"Yes, I have emphysema due to many years of smoking. I must say that I really enjoyed smoking and I love tobacco - the smell of it, lighting cigarettes, smoking them. But you have to pay for pleasure, and for me that price is emphysema," says Lynch. These words of the director reflect his incredible openness with which he treats his habit, which, although it harmed him, still remained an important part of his life.
Today, Lynch faces the dire consequences of his choice. Doctors diagnosed him with emphysema four years ago, and he now has to use supplemental oxygen to breathe. He admits that he can no longer move so freely, and adds that "he can barely cross the room." Despite this, Lynch does not stop and continues to inspire his fans, in particular, with meditation, thanks to which he was able to quit smoking more than two years ago.
"I've had a lot of tests recently, and the good news is that I'm in great shape, emphysema aside," he says. All these changes in his life did not change Lynch's attitude towards his past habit. He still sees smoking as part of his artistic journey. "It was important for me. I want the same thing that every drug addict wants: that what we love is good for us," says the director.
Despite health problems, Lynch remains hopeful of a return to directing, as his last major project, “Twin Peaks: The Return,” has become a true cultural phenomenon. This series, which was a continuation of the cult "Twin Peaks", was released in 2017 and remained in the memory of the audience for a long time as one of the most outstanding works of cinematography in recent years.
