Film

Madison Weston

Maddieweston@mycwi.cc

English 102-011W

Film Analysis

April 15, 2013

Mona Lisa Smile

Mona Lisa Smile is a film based off of traditional cultural beliefs and filled with challenges towards change for new modern traditions. Released in 2003, the film’s message is towards women empowerment and to reveal the flaws in the era’s traditions. Gender inequalities and lack of empowerment for women, is a well known problem, this is what led it to be a current millennium developmental goal. This goal to promote gender equality and women empowerment is important for social economy and is to be achieved by 2015 by all United Nations members.  This film is written by Mark Rosenthal and Lawrence Konner and directed by Mike Newell (Sony), and rates 6.2 stars on the IMDb website (IMDb).

 The film reveals the flaws with the culture, which consisted of outlooks on women’s roles, education, and manners. Out looks included making women suitable for marriage including how to be the perfect wife, right education, proper manners, and the right looks (Newell). They even went to classes to learn the proper manors, and home etiquettes. Mona Lisa Smile’s message is clear, it reveals the flaws in the current traditions in that era, and encourages women to be more then just suitable for marriage, against the stereotypes, be whatever they want to be. Throughout the movie conservative traditions are challenged and out comes time of change and modern theories.

The story is based in the 1950’s; the set is based at Wellesley College. A conservative college filled with our cast; including a student group of friends Betty, Joan, Giselle and Connie and school staff members. The director created the characters to be just what you would imagine college women and professors to be in the 1950’s; Beautiful and handsome, strong features, clean conservative clothes, and all appear and present themselves to be flawless. The main character is a modern professor named Katherine Watson, who came to teach her dream job as an art professor. Next we are introduced to other faculty members who consist of a liberal nurse named Amanda Armstrong, who also has modern outlooks. Next is a conservative home economics teacher named Nancy Abbey. Nancy is a strong believer on the current traditions and also will not stand for those who go against the beliefs of their culture.

These three faculty members each have a unique story that plays into the theme and the film’s message of empowering women. Because Katherine and Amanda are more modern, both are judged and ridiculed by the school board; for not following Wellesley standards and by appearing to challenge traditional beliefs, their jobs are on the line (Newell). Next are introduced to the students, a group of friends who are caught between following tradition and what is being taught to them, and or challenging their culture and thinking for themselves. Every character has strong beliefs, are very opinionated, and brutally honest.

The way the director focuses on the ideas from the characters, which gave an understanding of what the beliefs and concepts were during this era. The director sticks to his theme through out the film. All the characters are dressed to the part and role they are playing. The wardrobe and make-up, language and sets fit the theme of 1950’s conservative college culture. The setting is most important to the theme of the movie. The set made up the Wellesley College grounds is where history has been made and traditions were reinforced. This is the place where everything happens and those traditions custom to Wellesley College are being challenged throughout the movie.

When it comes to the technical details, the director Mike Newell uses lighting, different angles, and smooth transitions to make the film’s message clear and light. After watching the film, you understand the issues and concerns, the director leaves you feeling educated, and not aggravated. The lighting the director chose to use gave each character and object a glow, appearing to be flawless and perfect. The different transitions the director chose to use made every scene flow together, which gave the movie a sense of flawlessness. Throughout the movie, the director brings into focus the beauty of every aspect.

Identifying the flaws in the stereotypes and traditions, such as women being taught and made to be the most suitable for marriage instead of being empowered to advance in their education, was a necessary aspect for the overall message of the film. Even while identifying the flaws and conflicts, the film continued to carry a formal tone. The tone throughout the film was light and formal, based from the events and situations in the movie. The film carried a sense of elegance through the end.

Anyone with a willingness to learn, interests in history, and or ready for a decent movie, would be a good audience for this film. Mona Lisa Smile’s message is for women empowerment and to reveal the flaws in the current and old traditions. Years later these modern theories have actually become part of Wellesley College’s mission and values (Wellesley). The goal for gender equality and women empowerment is something everyone should be aware of and needs to be equally working on.

References

IMDb,. "Mona Lisa Smile." IMDb. Amazon, n.d. Web. 10 Apr 2013. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0304415/>.

Newell, Mike, dir. Mona Lisa Smile. Writ. Konner Lawrence, and Rosenthal Mark . Sony Pictures, 2003. DVD. 11 Apr 2013.

Sony Pictures, . "Mona Lisa Smile." Sony Pictures. Sony Pictures Digital Productions, n.d. Web. 8 Apr 2013. <http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/monalisasmile/>.

. "Mission and Values." Wellesley College. Trustees of Wellesley College, n.d. Web. 10 Apr 2013. <http://www.wellesley.edu/about/missionandvalues>.