But its reputation has grown steadily throughout the last quarter-century.
EW spoke to Lee about revisiting the film and what it was like to return forThe Return.
When I experience the character of Laura, its as one long story.
Credit: Everett Collection
Its as one life.
So in my mind, it sort of all runs together.
I dont have any memory of knowing that there was going to be a film when season 2 ended.
For me, its Lauras life.
I see the film and Lauras journey in such a different way.
And so its hard for me to unsee what I see now.
What I see now is all of the signs, and no one reaching out to help her.
Every single day that happens to the girls in our country, in real life.
I would also say, are there parts of all of us that no one understands?
Dont each and every one of us have some part of us that can relate to that?
And its not something that I could necessarily articulate clearly because it was a feeling and a sense.
I hadnt seenFire Walk With Mein 30 years, or however long it has been since it came out.
I saw it for the first time again probably six months ago.
I feel that way with that film, too.
What was your experience of the films initial release?
Were you at Cannes when it debuted?I was not there.
[laughs] Fortunately!
I know that different works of art often ignite controversial opinions.
So, in that sense, Im able to not take it personally in that way.
Its knowing, Oh wow, he hit a nerve!
What is that nerve?
What is that undercurrent?
What is that shadow aspect thats being mirrored back, that is uncomfortable?
Never crossed my mind!
[laughs] Its not necessarily that she felt completely finished to me.
Its more that I just didnt think it was ever a possibility.
I thought that was done.
Well, that chapter was done.
It was a different chapter, later!
There are some moments inFire Walk With Mewhen you and Kyle MacLachlan are together in the mysterious Red Room.
I may not know what that is.
I may not understand it, but it doesnt matter.
And to trust him, as I do.
You talked about your feeling of relief for Laura at the end ofFire Walk With Me.
Im still in the unknown.
And Im not uncomfortable with the unknown.
So Im gonna sit in the unknown for a while before Im able to answer that.
We dont necessarily have solid answers.
We so want solid answers to grab onto, and we dont have them with him.
Is it the same character?
Is it not the same character?
One of the greatest things hes taught me is that I dont have to have the solid answers.
