DVD Review: David & Lisa (1962)
American independent cinema has had a long and fascinating history. One of the most critically acclaimed early independent films to come out of the US was undoubtedly Frank Perry's David & Lisa
David & Lisa tells the story of two young and deeply troubled patients living at a mental health clinic. David (Keir Dullea) suffers from an extreme phobia that makes him go berserk anytime another person touches him. Lisa (Janet Margolin) is suffering from schizophrenia and insists on speaking only in rhymes. Somehow these two mentally damaged individuals manage to overcome their personal instabilities and form an uneasy friendship. As the film unfolds their relationship deepens and David and Lisa finally help each other come to terms with their psychoses.
Keir Dullea and Janet Margolin are both very good in their roles as David and Lisa. Dullea does a terrific job of portraying an emotionally damaged young man, but I was especially impressed with Janet Margolin here. Margolin is beautiful, but also very talented and she manages to imbued Lisa with the perfect combination of innocence and world-weariness. It's a shame that the actress didn't find more worthwhile starring roles throughout her rather brief career.
The film is beautifully shot by director Frank Perry and it features some impressive black and white cinematography by Leonard Hirschfield. Unfortunately it suffers from it's rather melodramatic script at times and the overbearing score by composer Mark Lawrence seems totally out of place and distracting, which diminishes the films more subtle moments.
When David & Lisa was originally released in 1962 it caused quit a stir. Film critics applauded the movie and it was nominated for many awards. Now that some 45 year have passed since it's original release it might be hard for modern audiences to understand what all the fuss was about. When David & Lisa is compared to other films about mental illness that had been made prior to it, I think it’s easier to understand the films importance. David & Lisa offered an intelligent study of mental illness in 1962 that dared to look at all possible explanations such as parental culpability, but it also encourages individuals to take charge of their own lives as well as their mental health.
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- Kimberly Lindbergs
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