Darling (1961 film)

Darling is a 1965 British drama film directed by John Schlesinger, starring Julie Christie, Dirk Bogarde, and Laurence Harvey. The film follows Diana Scott (Christie), a young, ambitious model in swinging London, as she navigates a complex web of relationships and social climbing, seeking wealth and status.

The film chronicles Diana's transformation as she moves from a relationship with a journalist, Robert Gold (Bogarde), to a marriage with an Italian Prince (Harvey), and the ultimate emptiness of her shallow, materialistic lifestyle. It explores themes of fame, fashion, infidelity, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing society.

Darling was a critical and commercial success, earning numerous awards, including three Academy Awards: Best Actress for Julie Christie, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Costume Design (Black-and-White). It is considered a key film of the British New Wave, capturing the zeitgeist of the 1960s and offering a critical commentary on its excesses and superficiality. The film's stark black-and-white cinematography, coupled with its frank portrayal of sexual relationships, made it a controversial and influential work.