The Elephant Man

England in the late 19th century. The "Elephant Man" John Merrick has suffered from severe physical deformities since childhood, particularly his head and upper body are heavily distorted. He is exhibited at fairs as a rare curiosity by a sadistic and exploitative showman, and is gawked at by a sensationalist audience. However, the surgeon Frederick Treves becomes aware of his case and takes him to London to examine him and provide him with a dignified home in the hospital. After initial skepticism, the staff there eventually agrees when it becomes clear that a sensitive and intelligent character lies within the "Elephant Man." Yet, despite the doctor's fruitful efforts to introduce John Merrick into society, he is not safe from human cruelty even here.

The film is based on the true story of Joseph Merrick, who gained tragic fame in the Victorian era as the "Elephant Man" and caught the attention of surgeon Frederick Treves, who offered him support and published a report about Merrick in the British Medical Journal. David Lynch transformed this true event with great sensitivity into a masterful cinematic plea for humanity and dignity. The Elephant Man became a major commercial success and was nominated for eight Oscars and five Golden Globes in 1981. Alongside The Straight Story, the film is among the most successful and popular works of the director, not least due to the two outstanding lead actors John Hurt and Anthony Hopkins.