Mona Lisa Smile (2003)

This period drama/ romantic movie set in the 1950’s but made in 2003, focuses on the pits and downfalls, as well as the highs of female roles and their rights in this time period.

The movie stars Julia Roberts as the main role, playing professor Katherine Ann Watson who comes to Wellesley girl’s college to teach art history, however ends up teaching some more valuable lessons. The movie sees Katherine Watson’s life since she moved to teach at the school, as well as the lives of some of her students such as, Betty Warran (Kirsten Dunst), Joan Brandwyn (Julia Stiles), Giselle Levy (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and Connie Baker (Ginnifer Goodwin)- being woman in the 1950’s.

In the movie we see problems that face these woman, which were common ones in the 1950’s; such as infidelity in marriage, putting the mans career in front of women’s, birth control, promiscuity and body image/ self respect. However, one things in common for all of these women, is they all start off under a mans thumb- besides Katherine. And throughout the movie they are met with new challenges set by Katherine Watson, that start to empower and realise them from there stereo typical roles set for woman in the 1950’s. although Katherine is taught some lessons along the way too by her ever loving class of female art students.

I believe that this film can show a lot of woman, who, although the times have changed, still are suppressed in many ways due to the fact that they are woman. However, the movie also makes the audience think- has it gone too far the other way? In the 1950’s most woman were house wives, and specific classes were even taught for girls to learn how to be the best wife and mother possible. But over time people have seen it isn’t the right way to live- woman need to have a career of there own- so know it is almost ostracized to be a house wife, when once it was the norm. this movie tackles important issue such as this, and how it is okay to be a house wife as long as its your decision, not your partners.

The message this movie sends is a powerful one, with strong female leads, and problems that still apply to todays life- I would recommend this movie to someone else (as I have done before) it is one of my favourites because of the empowerment behind it. 5 stars.