David and Lisa

Look, this movie was made in 1962. It's a little dated. However, it's heart is in the right place. The movie touches on some of the key family dynamics and social issues that arise with mental illness, and Dullea's performance in particular will evoke that combination of frustration and love people often feel for their disturbed loved ones. For those with an interest in film history, you will see the precursor of Ordinary People in many of the characters and situations depicted. Now, I admit that part of my interest in this film was Janet Margolin, such a natural talent and beauty. Honestly, I'd watch her flossing her teeth for 90 minutes. But my own oddities aside, I think this movie is well worth the watch for all of the above reasons - and, er, Janet.

I'm a sucker for coming-of-age, love stories, especially ones about troubled kids who are largely considered outcasts. This is a beautiful tale of a young man and young woman who meet at a home for teens with mental issues. David is wound up very tightly and reacts very negatively toward being touched. Lisa has two personalities (with two names) and often speaks only in rhymes. Both are mastefully portrayed by Keir Dullea (later of _2001_) and Janet Margolin.In the beginning, David meets Doctor Alan Swinford. He is a loving father-figure to the teens at the home, while he doesn't get emotionally involved in their lives. While this is movie isn't a comedy, Howard Da Silva does a great job playing the "sraight man." in contrast to the teens in his care. Da Silva was also coming off the Hollywood blacklist after about ten years, although he also was very active on the stage throughout his career. It was an excellent return to the screen for him.I've watched this movie multiple times and never get tired of it. The movie is in black and white, and that seems to add to the lure of it. Because I wasn't distracted by the visuals, I was able to feel the emotions of characters more.Mental illness was very much a taboo topic at the time, even more so for teens. This was a very groundbreaking and risky film for its time. The public responded well, as it grossed well over $4,000,000. That's outstanding considering it had a budget of less than $200,000.

I hadn't seen this film in decades, and I wondered how well it would hold up now. I needn't have worried: it's still as lovely & touching as I remembered, with the same quiet power that moved me as a teenager. The performances are wonderful, with Keir Dullea's David struggling unsuccessfully to conceal his terror beneath a calm, self-assured, even arrogant facade; and Janet Margolin's glowing Lisa, her big dark eyes conveying fragility, yearning, loneliness & a glimmer of hope with astonishing depth. And the stark black & white photography allows us to glimpse their souls in a way color never could.As for complaints that the story "blames the parents," please note that Dr. Swinford (a warm & compassionate Howard DaSilva) explains to David that one day he'll understand that his parents also had parents, with their own fears, doubts & unconscious drives. The film doesn't "blame the parents," it merely points out that each person bears the psychological weight & demands of many generations, often unconsciously. This remains as true today as it was then. Psychological healing isn't about "blame," but about recognizing the source of our inner wounds & coming to terms with them within ourselves. Whatever the cause of those wounds, once we're aware of them, the responsibility of facing them is ours alone.And has psychology learned much more in the 40 years since this film was made? Of course! But that doesn't invalidate the film, both as an expression of a specific time & place, and as a metaphor for healing. No, it's not saying that love & compassion will magically overcome & solve all problems; but it is saying that they're absolutely essential for any hopes of creating a whole & meaningful life. The understanding & tentative union that David & Lisa find together is a beginning, not an end. Who knows what the future will bring? All they (and we) have is this moment, now, reaching out to one another in an often dark & frightening world. And that's a message which is never dated. Most highly recommended!

I had high hopes for this movie based on the reviews. I thought maybe it would be a little like A Patch of Blue, another black and white film from the 60's about two young people getting to know each other. That is a truly remarkable film. Unfortunately however, I was disappointed with David and Lisa. First of all, every few minutes someone in this movie is yelling at someone else and then walking/running away with a subsequent fade-out. The pattern got tiresome after awhile. David is extremely hostile and not at all enjoyable to watch for most of the film. Also, the implication as to why David has the problems he does is that his mom is controlling and his dad is a weak pushover. Ok, his mom is a little controlling. But in the one scene his dad pushes back at the mom, yells at her (and then walks away of course) completely contradicting the premise that he's a weakling. His dad actually is extremely nice to David so it's a bit of a mystery as to why he would be responsible for David's extreme problems as the film implies. The whole premise just doesn't ring true.Another thing I didn't like is that the scenes are not allowed to develop at all. It's just a lot of short scenes that are constantly ending before anything of any real depth is revealed; before you really get to know the characters. For instance, we don't really learn anything about Lisa except that she likes to speak in rhymes and has split personalities. I just didn't ever come to really care about these characters. Even the ancillary characters in the school don't add anything of any interest or enjoyment. One of them is actually a pervert and he was very annoying. The ending is pretty good but getting there was difficult for me. I also liked the B&W photography. But overall, this film just didn't do much for me. However, maybe it will for you.

Ja, das Time Magazine hatte recht mit dieser Beurteilung. "David und Lisa" aus dem Jahre 1964 ist eine beeindruckende,unkonventionelle Liebesgeschichte zwischen zwei jugendlichen Außenseitern.Der offensichtlich sehr intelligente Junge David Clemens (gespielt von Keir Dulla) hat psychozoliale Probleme, er hält es nicht aus, berührt zu werden. Er wird von seiner liebevollen, aber überforderten Mutter in eine Internats-ähnliche Anstalt gebracht. Er verhält sich hier abweisend und kühl, entwickelt ein eigenartiges Interesse an Uhren und zeigt immer wieder Ausbrüche des Jähzorns. Dort trifft er schließlich Lisa Brandt (dargestellt von Janet Margolin), ein Mädchen, welches zwei verschiedene Persönlichkeiten zu haben scheint. Eine spricht nur in Reimen, die andere schweigt, aber schreibt ihre Gedanken auf. David freundet sich mit ihr an, indem er ebenfalls in Reimen spricht. Davids Mutter besucht ihn eines Tages, doch es kommt zum Streit, und David wird wieder mit nach Hause genommen - doch er möchte zu Lisa zurück. Wird ihm dies gelingen?Regisseur Frank Perry gelang mir diesem Film eine außergewöhnliche Liebesgeschichte zweier Teenager, zart aber eindringlich inszeniert, mit großartigen schauspielerischen Leistungen von Dulla und Margolin. Dieses sensible Kammerspiel in ungewöhnlicher Umgebung hat mich sehr beeindruckt.Bild- Tonqualität: Der Schwarz/Weiß Film ist im 4:3 Format gehalten, Schärfe mittelmäßig, Kontrast gar nicht mal schlecht. Ton mono, rasucht nur ganz wenig. Aber die Qualität für diese Art Film wirklich nebensächlich - und gut genug für meinen Geschmack. Wenig überraschend: bei dieser Independent Produktion gibt es keinerlei Extras.Der Film bekommt für mich für die ungewöhnliche Thematik und das großartige Schauspiel 5 Punkte.

Hier waren Kenner und Könner am Werk. An meinen emotionalen Reaktionen auf diesen Film kann ich ermessen, wie stimmig und realistisch er gemacht ist. Wenn mir die Figur Lisa / Myriel der Margolin immer wieder Tränen in die Augen treibt, ist das nicht Rührseligkeit, sondern Liebe und Mitgefühl für dieses (fiktive) Schicksal, das so exzellent in Szene gesetzt wurde. Auch Dullea's David überzeugt mich vollkommen und ich stimme mit seinem intuitiven Einfühlungsvermögen und seiner Art, auf Lisa zu antworten und einzugehen, vollkommen überein. Dieses sein Verhalten ist angesichts seiner überbordenden und herrschsüchtigen Intellektualität nicht unwahrscheinlich, denn diese dient ja einzig dem Schutz seiner extremen, so tief verletzten Sensibilität. Es ist dieses tiefe Verständnis von Lisas innerer Lage, das das in ihr verloren gegangene Vertrauen in andere Menschen neu begründet. Wie dieser subtile Prozess von Dr. Swinford kompetent unterstützt wird, ist großartig gezeigt und möchte einen bezüglich der Möglichkeiten professioneller Psychologie freuen und zuversichtlich stimmen. Das mit einem durch und durch gut gemachten Film "unters Volk" gebracht zu haben, ist wahrhaftig ein anzuerkennendes Verdienst der Produzenten und Macher. Ein Anlass für Jubel.

Ein Film der fast für jeden Bereich einen Oskar verdient hätte: Mindestens aber für Drehbuch, Regie und drei Darsteller (gerne auch mehr).Das ist meine Meinung und auch die meiner Frau. Natürlich ist der Film gefühlvoll, aber dennoch ohne schmalzige Gefühlsduselei. Dass der Film als Liebesfilm beworben wird, wird ihm nicht gerecht. Im Vordergrund stehen Zwangshandlungen und Zwangsverhalten. Man spürt, man hat es mit Menschen zu tun, die einfach nicht das tun können, was sie möchten. Es ist ihnen unmöglich. Immer wieder tritt ihre ungeahnte Verletzlichkeit zu Tage. Zum Teil werden sie aggressiv, schroff und abweisend. Und dennoch ist da das, was sie am meisten herbeisehnen: Nähe, Liebe und Anerkennung. Und man staunt, ist geradezu verblüfft: Denn wer hätte vermutet, dass man schon Anfang der 60er das Thema Zwangshandlung dermaßen realistisch und eindrucksvoll auf Zelluloid gebannt hätte. Ja, hier ist alles in wahrer Meisterschaft umgesetzt. Für viele ist es schade, dass dieser wirklich wertvolle Film hier nur in der englischen Fassung zu haben ist.

I first saw this movie in 1962 at the cinema and it stayed with me to the extent that I called my first child Lisa after the girl in the movie (If it was a boy I would have called him David). A touching film that was way ahead of it's time.

Bonne qualité, bon prix