What was your take on Mulholland Drive?Was the first scenario her projection ?

Answer 1

I'd always assumed that the first part was the dream of the character that Naomi Watts plays later in the second part of the film, an idealised version of how she would have preferred her life to turn out, as opposed to its bleak reality.

Answer 2

I'd say MHW is pretty correct.

The first part is essentially naomi watts "casting" herself in an amazing classic hollywood story where she goes from nothing to soon-to-be-famous. The second part is the reality where she is just another struggling soul.

On the special edition DVD it gives cluse to "solving" the mystery of the movie:

1. Be particularly attentive at the beginning of the film: at least 2 clues are revealed before the credits.
2. Be really attentive when a red lampshade appears on screen.
3. Can you hear the title of the film for which Adam Kesher is casting actresses? Is this title mentioned again?
4. A car accident is a terrible thing... Pay attention to where the accident takes place.
5. Who gives the blue key and why?
6. Pay attention to the dress, the ashtray and the coffee cup.
7. At the club 'Silencio', something is felt, the viewer realizes something, the clues come together... But what is it?
8. Did Camilla only become famous thanks to her talent?
9. Pay attention to the man behind 'Winkies'.
10. Where is Aunt Ruth?

This is a site discussing the answers to the clues:
http://www.mulholland-drive.net/studies/10clues.htm

Good luck!!!