Have you ever thought marriage and school could coincide? Well, Wellesley girls are accustomed to living
a lifestyle of just that. “Wellesley girls who
are married have become quite adept at balancing their obligations”. Their
obligations being that they must manage their rigorous course schedule while
mastering all housewife duties and attending to their husbands. This is the
“role [the women] were born to fill” at Wellesley College. One would not know
who a Wellesley girl is without viewing the romantic drama film, Mona Lisa
Smile. As the director, Mike Newell portrayed Julia Roberts as a teacher that
had the intentions of showing her female students that it was possible to apply
their knowledge in a work force setting after they graduated. Students, starring
Kristen Dunst, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Julia Stiles, believed that their duty in
life was to be a housewife and raise a family. This film goes on to show how
the 1950’s era had an impact on a woman’s future and her decision-making.
After
viewing the film, there were some appeals that made the movie evoking. Although
this film took place in 1953-1954, I was pleasantly surprised to see that there
were some areas of mutual conflicting predicaments that still occur in today’s
society. The uncertain nature of where one wants to go in life was established
in almost all the girls that attended Wellesley College. Some girls were
undecided on their careers, and others were indecisive on whether they wanted
marriage alongside a graduate degree. In addition, there were struggles with
finding an everlasting relationship and staying loyal. This was solely shown
through Kristen Dunst’s character. She had not been content with her marriage,
because her relationship felt more like an obligation rather than a pure feeling. She later began to realize that her husband was cheating on her, while
under the impression that he was on business trips. There was drinking,
smoking, and intimacy all incorporated within the scenes. Some drinking incidents
led to irresponsible behaviors, such as a student teacher affair. All these
aspects of life are reoccurring and still very much present in 2012.
Although
the film mostly consisted of relatable features in every day life, there were
few elements of the film that made it difficult to connect with. For instance,
the film’s main focus was women independence. Wellesley College was an all
female school. Therefore the women who attended were fully committed to their
studies and were awaiting marriage. In today’s society, most women attend co-ed
universities/colleges and do not get married until the average age of 28. The
expectations that were demanded of these young women were hard to grasp. Not
only were they asked to have proper etiquette at all times, but they also had
to listen to the obligations of which their parents bestowed on them. One
student’s mother in particular, would not allow her daughter to sleep in her
house once she found out her husband had been cheating on her. She was also not
allowed to file for divorce. These things are unheard of in 2012. A majority of
the population in the US decide what is best for them in adulthood, not
their parents.
Although
Mona Lisa Smile did not depict exactly what life was like in current times, it
did have an engaging story line that was excellently performed by Hollywood’s
A-list actresses. A bulk of the film that was relatable made the film worth
viewing. Not only did Mona Lisa Smile exhibit romance in various forms, but it
also contained drama that allowed the audience to be engaged. Mona Lisa Smile,
directed by Mike Newell, earns my approval and a “thumps up”.
