Welcome to the latest edition of ‘Retro Rewind’, the TGJ original feature that takes our faithful readers on a journey to TV and film’s glorious past.
Today, we shine a light on the 1959 version of ‘Imitation of Life’, a movie exploring self-hatred within the African-American community by way of a young black girl, portrayed by Susan Kohner, attempts to erase all traces of ethnicity when she learns that she “passes for a white” in a pre-Civil Rights society.
Drama ensues when her quest to pass as a Caucasian woman sees her find herself in dark and dangerous territory as her hatred for her black mother (Juanita Moore) intensifies.
Intrigued?
Watch below…
The moving classic picked up $6.4 million at the box office and would see Moore score a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Golden Globes within the first year of its eligibility.
Random: Are we the only ones who’d love to see the movie rebooted with Beyonce as Sarah Jane?