This swan-song for Douglas Sirk also happens to be I feel one of his best. Imitation of Life is a gem of a film, and for many reasons is a real tear jerker.
Imitation of Life is sumptuously filmed. The cinematography is beautiful, as are the costumes, scenery and sets. The music is excellent too, not just in the incidental music but also in the funeral song sung by Mahalia Jackson. It is absolutely gut-wrenching, and when my family and I saw it there wasn't a dry eye in the room as that song played. Imitation of Life also benefits from some great direction, an engrossing story that deals with a lot of domestic troubles and issues and a well written script. Not to mention the acting- although I am not an immediate fan of Lana Turner she is great as the actress oblivious to the issues she faces but be prepared for a lot of delirious and melodramatic mood swings if you haven't seen the film yet, and Juanita Moore is excellent too as the most sympathetic character. But Susan Kohner steals the show as Sarah Jane, the character I was most interested in and Kohner did brilliantly carrying the second half of this film.
Overall, excellent film, melodramatic it is but not in a bad way. 10/10 Bethany Cox
