Darling (1965)

 John Schlesinger's "Darling"


Despite its forced charm, John Schlesinger's 1965 film "Darling" lacks any morceau of it. Centering on a young model who sleeps her way up to the top of the British fashion and film industry, the film tries its best to emulate the thematic notions found in films like "La Dolce Vita" or even "I Know Her Well" from the same year. Sure, like "I Know Her Well," our protagonist feels distant from the viewer as a means to be an object and product for the purposes of her profession. 

However, "Darling" lacks a thematic center that illustrates the vibrancy of the rest of the film. No vibrancy can be found in the film aside from colorful moments to paint the film more entertaining. That being said, Julie Christie's performance is stellar. Beyond this, the film itself appears unengaging and paper thin.



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