David and Lisa

Director: Frank Perry
Cast: Keir Dullea, Janet Margolin, Howard da Silva
Genre: Drama 1962
Running time: 93 mins.
Rating:★★★★

Two emotionally disturbed teenagers drawn to each other in a mental institution. The painfully shy Lisa (Janet Margolin) can communicate only through rhyme, and David (Keir Dullea) cannot bear being touched. Attracted to each other, they soon develop a deep bond that changes both of their lives.

David has a lot of anger and is quick to dismiss/dislike activities. Lisa has this child-like innocence. They both share an internal fear that they are trying to suppress and hatred of being caged like an animal. A desire for a friend that will except one another for who they are. Pushing and pulling each other's limits which there for helps and forms their bond and illnesses. Their personal journeys and transformation is very easy to relate to, even now in the twenty-first century.

There is a lot of surreal imagery used which extremely appropriate for place the characters are in and the time the film was made. It is obvious that this film was influenced by such films as A Streetcar named Desire, where there is more realism in dialogue, cinematography, and performances. No overly predictable lines, predictable story line, and predictable performances. A refreshing and an inventive period in cinematic history. This is film is just one example. It help pave the way for the psychological elements for the film, Bunny Lake is Missing (1965).