Title: Darling
Year: 1965
Genre: Drama, Romance
Rating: 6.7
Cast: Julie Christie, Dirk Bogarde, Laurence Harvey, José Luis de Vilallonga, Roland Curram
Description: John Schlesinger's "Darling," a shimmering, unsettling portrait of ambition and emptiness, isn't just a film; it's a fever dream in celluloid. Diana Scott's relentless pursuit of social climbing, portrayed with a chilling nonchalance by Julie Christie, leaves the viewer breathless and morally conflicted. The film's brilliance lies not in its shocking moments, but in the slow, insidious creep of Diana's self-destruction, a descent fueled by a desperate craving for validation that resonates long after the credits roll. Schlesinger masterfully captures the superficiality of 1960s London high society, exposing the hollowness beneath the glamorous veneer. This isn't just a story of a social climber; it's a poignant exploration of identity, loneliness, and the corrosive nature of unchecked ambition. "Darling" remains a powerful and disturbingly relevant masterpiece.