Mona Lisa Smile

_Mona Lisa Smile_ is a smart and provocative period drama that’s especially well-crafted. The story follows an art instructor who comes to the elite women’s college Wellesley during the 1950s and upsets the establishment with her unconventional teaching methods. With an all-star cast that includes Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, and Maggie Gyllenhaal, the performances are excellent. The writing is also quite good, particularly in how it explores the role of women in the ‘50s, and the expectations of upper society. Yet there are some weaknesses in the plot, and a few of the characters are underdeveloped. Compelling and inspired, _Mona Lisa Smile_ is an impressive film.

This movie is crammed packed with talent. Freeze frame on any group of young women in the auditorium and you will see women who went on to to make a mark in their profession. This movie was set a year before I was born and I couldn’t help but think of all that has changed in my lifetime, the biggest change, perhaps, was the idea that norms could (and maybe should) be challenged. It took a world war to shatter the assumptions about women’s roles as their men went off to war leaving behind jobs that needed to be done. Following that, the education of women opened horizons that society had previously left unexplored. Although nominated for multiple awards, I think this film suffered from the same fear that it depicted, the fear that ideas would be dangerous to the status quo. Even 2003 was uneasy with this message. The writing is good. The performances are great. I give this film a 9 (a mile marker) out of 10.