Review of Imitation of Life (1959) by A R — 22 Aug 2007

IMO this is better than the 1934 adaptation. Sirk made substantial changes that add to the ironic underpinnings, exploring the concept of life as imitation more deeply than Stahl (the '34 version is worth seeing, however).

I can't rate this any higher, as I do not think the cinematography and use of color quite matches the other Sirk film I have seen, All That Heaven Allows. There is some interesting use of set design in Meredith's upstate mansion.

Good film, but I would only recommend to those who are comfortable watching sudsy melodramas geared towards women. Actually, if you dig Haynes, Almodovar, Waters, or Fassbinder, Sirk is pretty much compulsory, since he majorly influenced their work.