Darling
dir. John Schlesinger · 1965
The pursuit of success and recognition can lead to personal emptiness and the loss of genuine connections.
Diana Scott, a young model, navigates the dizzying heights of fame and love, entangled with a television journalist who sacrifices his family for her. As she ascends the social ladder, the allure of wealth and status begins to overshadow her personal connections, revealing the emptiness that often accompanies success. Watching this film feels like a slow dance through the vibrant yet hollow world of 1960s London, where every glamorous moment is tinged with a sense of melancholy and the inevitable cost of ambition.
Young, attractive and vivacious, model Diana Scott (Julie Christie) is firmly determined to become rich and famous, and she does not hesitate to take bold steps to succeed. She finally literally strikes gold: she meets Robert Gold (Sir Dirk Bogarde), a well-known television journalist who not only introduces her into new social and professional circles, but also abandons his family to live with her. Diana seems to have happily combined success and love. However, in those roaring sixties, others are ready to offer her even more money, fame, and fun than Robert can.
Talking points
- the price of ambition
- the nature of love and success
- societal expectations of women
- the impact of fame on personal identity
