The Elephant Man – Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art

Second half of the 19th century, Victorian England. A brilliant young surgeon, Frederick Treves (Anthony Hopkins), encounters a man with a severe physical deformity who, because of his appearance, is condemned to a degrading life as a circus sideshow attraction. The man is John Merrick (John Hurt), suffering from a rare genetic disorder and known to fairground audiences across the country as “The Elephant Man.” Dr. Treves, the first to treat him as a human being, fights to free Merrick from the misery of his surroundings and to offer him a dignified life.

This is only David Lynch’s second feature film, and in terms of cinematic language, it draws heavily from German Expressionism. The Elephant Man is a deeply empathetic story about humanity, (in)tolerance, and the feeling of not belonging. It is a tale that highlights the immense importance of acceptance, empathy, and kindness toward others. The themes of rejection and the desire for belonging make the film moving even from today’s perspective, especially in the context of current social debates on acceptance of difference and exclusion.

In 2025, we mark the 45th anniversary of the film, about which Adam Garbicz wrote in his legendary guide Cinema, the Magic Vehicle:
“In crafting a dreamlike atmosphere, evoking cultural fears, and contrasting physicality with spirit, ugliness with beauty (...) – David Lynch is already, in essence, the greatest ruler of cinematic imagination he would become by the end of the century.”

The film received 8 Academy Award nominations – including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for John Hurt – as well as 4 Golden Globe nominations, 3 BAFTA Awards, and a César for Best Foreign Film. The film is available in a restored 4K version.