Assigned Film Title: Mona Lisa Smile
Year: 2003
Director: Mike Newell
Director of Photography: Anastas Michos
Brief Plot: (Insert here a brief plot of the film). After accepting a role which she was called for (a teaching position History Art) in Wellesley College, Katherine Watson travels to a new city where she knows no one. Watson, particularly in those ages (the 1950s), she is an up-to-date woman with a passion for both her students as well as art. On her first day in class, she discovers all the students were very bright, the students answered the questions despite the fact that they had never learned history art. Despite this, their teacher Watson notices that they do not give their best since they do not attempt to reach the potential that they have to succeed in their studies. The main reason for this is that almost throughout the movie, all the students seemed to be bidding most of their time waiting to get the most appropriate man (from a good family) so they can marry (they stayed and stuck on the traditional thoughts and mores). All the same, despite the fact that there was a strong bond formed between the students and the teacher, Watson’s views compared to those of the college’s dominant culture are incompatible.
State the main themes: Throughout the movie, a number of themes represent themselves. For Instance, there is marriage, traditions, feminism, and dualism.
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Narrative Breakdown . The movie features a 1950s set up, as, for this reason, the choice of costume had to look like and match the exact appearance of the 1950s era. After her arrival at the Wellesley all-women conservative College as a teacher of History of Art, she quickly tries to fit in. In her first class when she was still unfamiliar with the students, she was startled with how the students were sharp and left her shocked with their way of doing things (Scene 06:25 – 10:32). Set up in the 1950s, where traditions were the order of every girl, Watson finds it hard to try and reason the same way as the administration and her students do. During the first act, there are a number of incidents which take place, the most inciting scene being where Betty shuts up Connie after she jokes about “getting one”; Betty bugs in a rude way making Connie seem inferior thus powerless and incapable (Scene 22:08-22:24). On second thought, Joan is asked by Watson which law school she might be thinking of joining whether married or not and she says Yale (33:58 – 34:30). Later on, Watson provides her with an application form to join Yale School of Law (35:45 & 35:58). The climax of act one is occasioned by Bettys’ wedding which is big attracting people from different calibers including the governor. Watson is seen as an obstacle to the traditions of her students as well as that of the school to an extent that President Carr warns her about her teaching methods which she terms as unorthodox for the school (48:33). At scene 49:46, Betty seems to be jealous of Joan’s and Tommy’s closeness despite the fact that she is married. The climax in act two is seen where Betty returns to class after marriage rudely interrupting the session and is confronted by Watson who says she missed her classes, a paper, and midterm. Betty attempts to defend herself through their traditions but Watson seems not to care about that (1:00:39). Act three begins with a climax where Watson goes to class and speaks out her mind to her students about their traditions as well as those of the school. She gets in class and everyone notices that it would not be good since the newspapers for the school as written by Betty have it that Watson is destroying their traditions and mores (1:08:15 – 1:11:53). She later confronts Carr and questions her about the girl’s ways in the school and the life they are building. But Carr defends the school citing what happened with girls many decades back. Watson gets in an intimate relationship with Bill and gets blinded that she does not heed the warning of her roommate Abbey but later realizes she should have listened to her after Stan spilled the beans about not being in Italy. Joan decides to do away with her law dreams and marries Tommy secretly, and even with attempts by Watson to try and help her find another law school in the town, she would move to with her husband she refuses. Betty’s marriage hits the wall since Spencer is always absent with other women and spends no time with her. She decides to file for a divorce and asks for help from Watson to get a new place she can live. More so, she asks for help to join Yale School of Law. Watson also refuses to stay at Wellesley College since she disagreed with the terms that were given to her if she would stay in the school. Watson lives Wellesley College on a cab and her students follow her riding on bicycles waving her goodbye.
The End.
Reference
Goldsmith-Thomas, E. (Producer), Schindler, D. (Producer), Schiff, P. (Producer) & Newell, M. (Director). (2003). Mona Lisa Smile . [Motion Picture]. United States. Sony Pictures Entertainment.
