Douglas Sirk’s final Hollywood feature is a remake of John Stahl’s film of Fannie Hurst’s novel about two single mothers, one white, one black, striving together in a man’s world. It focuses, with typically sharp irony and intelligence, on issues of racial prejudice and inequality. The rags-to-riches dynamic is brilliantly undercut in the film’s later scenes.

“Nobody does melodrama like Sirk does. It’s all in the subtext.” Linda Marric

“The genius of Douglas Sirk is on full display in his critical auscultation of the foundations of America.” Jean-Marc Lalanne

“The greatest tearjerker ever made.“ Odie Henderson

“Few Hollywood films are about as much or deliver their messages so entertainingly. Imitation of Life is the apotheosis of melodrama, but it’s also a guide to life (ie, don’t do what they do) and one of cinema’s most extraordinary portraits of the impacts of racism.” Robin Baker

“A favourite of my grandmother; I grew up watching this film with her. There is so much to touch upon. The relationship between a mother and daughter is challenging regardless of race or social status.” Juliet Romeo

Film	Year	Director
Moonlight	2016	Barry Jenkins
Morvern Callar	2001	Lynne Ramsay
Heat	1995	Michael Mann
Mangrove	2020	Steve McQueen
Nashville	1975	Robert Altman
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes	1953	Howard Hawks
La Rue Cases-Nègres	1983	Euzhan Palcy
Imitation of Life	1959	Douglas Sirk
Raging Bull	1980	Martin Scorsese
All about Eve	1950	Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Rōgan Graham

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