This film is available to stream with Into Film+ Available to stream with Into Film+

Imitation Of Life

Imitation Of Life
Imitation Of Life

Film Details

Year

1959

Duration

125 minutes

Genres

Drama

Language

English


Synopsis

In 1947, widowed mother Lora Meredith has aspirations of becoming a Broadway star. When she loses sight of her young daughter, Susie, on a crowded beach, she is thankful when Annie – a Black woman – returns her. Annie also has a daughter of a similar age, Sarah Jane, who passes as white. After the two women get to talking, Lora agrees that Annie and Sarah Jane can move in with them temporarily. Annie persuades Lora to let them stay permanently and becomes the maid of the household so that Lora has time to pursue her acting career. While Lora gets herself an agent and soon begins to make an impact on the stage, Annie’s relationship with her daughter Sarah Jane becomes more strained. Douglas Sirk’s celebrated melodrama deals with themes around race, gender, class, and identity. 

Director/s

Cast (in alphabetical order)

Also available with this film on Into Film+

Imitation Of Life

3 RESOURCES

Find the resources related to Imitation Of Life (1959) to use in your teaching   PLAY INTO FILM+

Additional details

12 Classification

Contains racial identity theme, racist references and sex references.

Find out more on the BBFC website

Also available with this film on Into Film+

Imitation Of Life

3 RESOURCES

Find the resources related to Imitation Of Life (1959) to use in your teaching   PLAY INTO FILM+

Resources To Use With This Film

Related Films

Volver
Into Film+ Premium IF+ Premium

Volver(2006)

Volver(2006)

Stream on Into Film+ Premium

Beautifully shot and deeply moving Spanish melodrama from the masterful director Pedro Almodóvar.

4 Reviews

Certificate15

14+ years 118 mins

Read More
Guess Who's Coming To Dinner
Film

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner(1967)

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner(1967)

Comedy-drama about a white middle-class woman whose supposedly liberal father struggles to deal with her black fiancé.

13 Reviews

CertificatePG

14+ years 108 mins

Read More
In The Heat of the Night
Film

In The Heat of the Night(1967)

In The Heat of the Night(1967)

In the US south in the 60s, just after the passing of the Civil Rights Act, a black police officer is arrested for a prominent white citizen's murder.

14 Reviews

Certificate12

11+ years 102 mins

Read More
All That Heaven Allows
Film

All That Heaven Allows(1955)

All That Heaven Allows(1955)

Fantastic melodrama that revolves around a middle-aged, middle-class woman who falls for an earthy, free-spirited gardener.

0 Reviews

CertificateU

11+ years 85 mins

Read More

Rate this film

Club Leaders can rate films! Help other club leaders decide if this film is suitable for use in their film club by giving it a rating.

Rate this film

Your rating

Click a star to rate this film

Ratings guide

  • Worked brilliantly
  • Went down well
  • Had some value
  • Did not enjoy it
  • Would not use again

Member rating

18 Reviews

Members rating breakdown
5 Star
5
4 Star
6
3 Star
5
2 Star
2
1 Star
0
View all reviews

Leader rating

This film has not been rated by a club leader yet. Be the first to rate this film.

Start an Into Film Club or Log in to rate this film

Reviews (18)

Members rating

Sort reviews by

Back to top Load more

Viewing 0 of 0 Reviews found.

Anson Road Into Film Club

Into Film Clubs

Into Film Clubs provide opportunities to watch, review and make films.

Coleg Sir Gar Into Film Club (Do I Need a Licence header)

Do I Need a Licence?

Information on which licences you need to show films in your education setting.

How Do Into Film Clubs Work? header

How do Into Film Clubs work?

Find out more about what's involved in running your very own Into Film Club.

Into Film CPD Training (Bolton)

Training

Learn to use film to raise literacy attainment and engage students.

You may also be interested in...

Load more

Viewing 0 of 0 related items.

What our educators say

"The art of discussion has improved and the breadth of language used has been enhanced by the variety of films watched, all of which we order free from the Into Film website."

- Janice Middleton, Headteacher, Edlington Victoria School, Derbyshire