Review of Imitation of Life (1959) by Martin T — 14 Jul 2008

An incredibly layered film for what is, on the surface, a "weepie". Sirk's handling of racial issues is bold and scathing, especially for 1959. I'd be really surprised if there were many other films of this time addressing race in such a complex manner.

There's a lot more going on, and we're never quite sure what to make of Lora's ambition, or Steve's passive-aggressive whining. The film is also astoundingly moving, as a melodrama should be, and beautifully photographed.