MovieChat Forums > Imitation of Life (1959) Discussion > The Title (spoilers inside)

The Title (spoilers inside)


I know it may seem 'obvious' to some, but everything is open to interpretation.

What significance do you guys think the title has to the film?

No need to read any further to reply, it's just my answer:

I think it's to do with people's hopes being a stretch of their world, especially Lora; her hope to go from widower, on the old side, single mom, to becoming a star, and thinking that her daughter was satisfied with material possessions as an alternative to affection; it all seemed a bit artificial to me, as if Lora was 'playing' at being famous, like she lied about who she was in the agent's office to get her first job, and then just emulated the lifestyle she expected people like her to have.

Also with Sarah Jane, who pretended to be from a white strict rich family to her boyfriend (and throughout the whole film). She too led an artificial lifestyle, and 'imitated' what she saw as being a 'white' upbringing.

Annie also has an element of this artificial-ness in her character. She expresses interest in having a very fancy funeral, as if to say that she wants the 'imitated' lifestyle in death that she never had in life.

Overall, I think the characters had several unresolved issues that showed cracks thoughout the film, as in, amongst the emulated lifestyles they wanted, some of reality showed through, but whenever it did, the characters seemed to overlook them with an 'everything's alright really' attitude and move on, denying the truth. This is really sent home at the end, when, after Sarah Jane has her moment of honesty about herself (demonstrated by her monologue with the coffin), but then gets in the car, and everything seems to go back to being an artificial, 'it's all alright, dear' kind of thing again. It's like the characters are forever (almost romantically) doomed to deny who they all really are.

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yoodoos your analysis and interpretation of the title of the film is very deep and though-provoking.

This film contains all the conventions of melodrama, allbeit the stereotypical and negative ones, but I've always found the title of this film to be so exalted, high and serious. It's as if it were the title of a painting.

The title to Sirk's film All THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS also has the same beautiful, lyrical quality to it, that doesn't correspond with the melodramatic style and specific themes of the film.

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You pretty much hit the nail on the head. It's all about pretending, acting, denying.

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