Imitation of Life, reconsidered
CVK
This an interesting article that takes a look at both versions (1934 and 1959) of Imitation of Life. The author argues for a reinterpretation of Peola/Sarah Jane as a progressive feminist, rather than simply a tragic mulatta:
Even though Sarah Jane is the most self-loathing character, she’s still the most progressive; foreshadowing a future where the box checked on the census form is a self-defining matter. A restless teenager who refuses to socialize with the respectable Negro boys from church because “they bore me”, she’s the only one who dares to make a mess in Lora’s magazine-perfect house, scattering her records on the floor as she shimmies around them in dangerous, vinyl-cracking stiletto heels. We cheer her sass and sarcasm when she declares to Lora’s self-important guests that she’s learned to balance a serving tray on her head “from mah mammy . . . and she learned it from her ol’ massah, befo’ she belong to you.”
She argues that even the famous seedy nightclub scene (pictured above) can be factored into this:
But modern eyes regard her instead as a proto-third wave feminist who believes there’s more dignity in sex work than domestic servitude, and acknowledges that minorities (racial or gender) can’t wait for a magic “someday” to get what they want.
Unlisted wrote:
How about another remake!!
Peola/Sarah could be played by Jessica Alba or Angelina Jolie
Posted 18 Apr 2006 at 9:46 am ¶
Vonn wrote:
I hope that comment about a remake was a joke……..Alba and Jolie wouldn’t know “black”, “mixed” or huma-huma-frick-frack if it slapped them. Besides, currently there are not decent actresses out there that could pull of this roll with any class.
Posted 18 Apr 2006 at 4:08 pm ¶
brad wrote:
Vonn, I disagree about Alba since she is mixed and has had to deal with racism in her career having found it difficult to be cast in roles because of her “ethnic” look. Her biggest career break has been the “Fantastic Four” in which she donned blue contact lenses and dyed her hair blonde to play Sue Storm. The movie was a big success and vaulted her to the B+/A- list of actresses. That said, her past movies played on her mixed-race looks that allowed her to play a Eurasian island girl, for instance.
In some ways, I never thought of Sara Jane as being that pathetic. I thought she was aggressive. The real villan in the second “Imitation of Life” was the racism of the times that forced her to make horrible and ruthless decisions. Sara Jane looked “white”; so, if she wanted to be considered “white,” who cares. When I first saw the film a few years ago, I didn’t see Sara Jane as evil or bad but a victim of bigotry. I also wondered why her mother didn’t provide her with a stronger support system. It’s obvious Sara Jane had brains, why wasn’t she in college on her way to medical school?
In contrast, Sandra Dee’s character is a sweet but dim twit (not quite up to the mythic Jessica Simpson standard).
Posted 18 Apr 2006 at 5:07 pm ¶
Unlisted wrote:
Vonn:
I made the remark half jokingly, but I actually don’t think that it would be a bad idea if either of them accepted this role IF a remake was made. A good acting job could get an Oscar nomination, and Jolie is a good actress. Not sure Alba could pull off Oscar type stuff.
With so many remakes (and sequels) being made, I’m surprised that this is not on the table.
Posted 18 Apr 2006 at 7:39 pm ¶
tmj wrote:
Considering how gung ho everyone is about authenticity, I’m surprised Alicia Keys name wasn’t battered around. I have to say that this movie was a painful one for me. I would still see the remake, but would expect a heartache after leaving the theater. Because of that, I would like to see someone with some “history” play the role, someone with some PAIN that could project itself onto the screen.
Posted 19 Apr 2006 at 3:46 pm ¶
Lyonside wrote:
Pain? Wouldn’t that make the TM (Tragic Mulatto) thing worse?
How about a IOL revisioning - still in the same era (because modern day wouldn’t make as much sense - there’d be too many people going, so move to a diverse metropolotan area and get OVER yourself) but with a little more oomph to your heroine?
I’m thinking an update that would do to IOL what Ever After did for Cinderella.
Posted 19 Apr 2006 at 8:50 pm ¶