The score by Ennio Morricone is melancholic and sweeping, reinforcing the tragic romance angle the director aimed for. The use of 1940s and 50s pop songs helps ground the film in its specific era, contrasting the innocence of American pop culture with the protagonist's dark European intellect.
Thirty-five years later, director Adrian Lyne ( Fatal Attraction , 9½ Weeks ) attempted the impossible: to film Lolita as Humbert Humbert sees it. The result, Lolita (1997), is a film of lush, golden-hour cinematography and devastating performances that failed to find a U.S. distributor for over a year and was eventually dumped on cable television (Showtime) before a token theatrical release. But was it a failure, or a masterpiece too dangerous for its time?
Nevertheless, the film was branded “kiddie porn” by some critics before release, leading to its US distribution limbo.
The movie delves into the complex and disturbing relationship between a middle-aged literature professor and his stepdaughter.
