David and Lisa (1962)

[lester1/2jr]

This isn't perfect and is a little boring in places but it won me over because I'm a quasi aspergers former indie kid who probably belongs in the WASP/ Mod nuthouse in the movie.  I could fake it pretty convincingly lets put it that way.

A rich kid (Keir Dullea) who can't stand being touched is shipped off to a mental health facility. He is more together than alot of the people there but knows he has problems and isn't unhappy about his predicament. He develops a friendship with Lisa (Janet Margolin. above) who is schizophrenic. We don't really see the schizophrenia that much, what you remember mainly is how she rhymes everything she says. Sometimes it's colorful "warm and nice, no snow and no ice" other times its like "angy angry wangry wangry!!".



There are of course movies of the week and so forth that have similar themes, most egregiously "Like Normal People" which I haven't actually seen but just look at the title. The movies main fault is actually probably it's lack of schmaltz! It does build up to a dramatic climax but alot of it is kind of mundane. I don't doubt disturbed people can be snarky and whimsical but it sometimes just feels peripheral to the main story. or maybe it' s hip and off broadway ish I have no idea. It has a heart but it takes a while to find it.

Besides being sympathetic the leads are incredibly good looking and the photography is fantastic. If you don't mind a little dithering here and there I'd say definately check this one out. Kind of a flipside to the more Paris Hilton style trust fundy white kid movie Darling. Actually I don't think Darling was rich, but you get the idea.

4.25/ 5

[lester1/2jr]

this is on TCM tomorrow night at 12.  

                                              ^PBR  ^hipsters

[BoyScoutKevin]

The only film that my 8th grade English teacher recommended that we see.

[Allhallowsday]

DAVID AND LISA is a good movie, though it's about emotionally and psychologically disturbed young persons, not "mentally deficient people".