"Imitation of Life" (1959)

If another one of these modern day women bitch and moan about how there aren’t any strong female roles, I want to take a copy of the is movie and slap them hard across the face. This is THE quintessential answer to all these stupid actresses today that don’t believe there were women roles. My guess, they didn’t bother to seek out this movie. Or “Gone With The Wind” or the “Three Faces of Eve.”

This movie is BRILLIANT. Directed by Douglas Sirk, it tells an epic story of a late-start actress, Lora, played pitch perfect by Lana Turner, who raises a daughter, Susie (Sandra Dee) who on a chance meeting befriends a down on their luck other mother and daughter (Juanita Moore..Annie, the mother, and Susan Kohner, Sarah Jane…the daughter; both went on to be nominated for Best Supporting Actress…when this award actually meant it, and NOT just some po-dunk cameo with cool lines). Their relationship is the most fascinating, since Sarah Jane, is so light skinned black, she passes for white. This is the core of her identity crisis in a world that is cruel to blacks. And will come to be a huge matter of contention in throughout their lives.

When their family dynamic first begins, Lora is a dreamer who has her ambition focused on an acting career. She experienced the pitfalls of most struggling artist types, except there is an added issue, that she is also a widow with a daughter in tow. Enter Annie, a sweet black woman who is content with just a roof over her head for her and her daughter. They all cram themselves into a tiny apartment, attempting to make a living. And they do so, by dodging their landlord, and taking on a menial duty of stuffing envelopes for cash.

There is also a character that enters their lives early on. Steve is a photographer that captures their chance meeting at the beach. A friendly enough guy who develops a deep love for Lora, though becomes the crush of Susie. He is a photographer hobbyist, who almost literally, stumbles into their lives. He is a strong, determined man, who…if he existed in today’s world, women would throw themselves at him. He is the oak for which most women dream of hanging their lives on. A trustworthy gentlemen and a man of his word. You never suspect him of his intentions, since his life eventually revolves around waiting on Lora to discover herself and catch up to him.

What I loved about this movie is that it is hard reality. For a movie in the late 50’s they are tackling some terrible issues. Racism, child neglect, and, in the case of Lora, the casting couch. Both women are resilient in life’s torture, they both seem to approach from different angles. And they ring true now as they do then. For instance, Lora is a blonde hair, blue eyed beauty who believes the world has hope and opportunity around the corner, whilst Annie leans on just exposing enough of the terrible realities the black culture has to face. But, what I love about Annie, is that she does it with a quiet strength. She has so much pride and dignity, and embraces life’s challenges. Often times swallowing a lot of pain so her daughter, who can’t even stand the sight of her black skin can have a better life. And it’s tortuous to see and feel the Sarah Jane pull away until the inevitable has to happen. It’s a gruesome relationship that seen one way fills you with disgust for Sarah Jane, but still makes you wonder if she doesn’t have a point. The title itself is brilliant. Since Lora is an actress, the common motif is that the world is her stage. And oftentimes Susie is fed up with the dramatics that her mother cannot let go of in real life. This is very prevalent in “stars” today. Their public persona extends to their private one and don’t even know what is part of a movie/play and what is actually real. In other words, Lora does a great imitation of life. But life gets right into her face, where it becomes unscripted. And at a breaking point doesn’t understand complete how to function. This is a heartbreaker. And I implore you, if you haven’t already to seek it out.