Mona Lisa Smile
Katherine Ann Willis (Julia Roberts) has been hired to teach at Wellesley College. She has a liberal, free-spirited view of life...one she intends to share with the Wellesley women of the class of 1953. For the first time, American women are permitted to join the work force. However, Katherine is taken aback that the majority of her students follow the ideals of the generation before them, all willing to sacrifice their dreams for marriage. Katherine decides to buck the Wellesley establishment and inspire her students to challenge the status quo.
Member Reviews
Mona Lisa smiles - movie_goer
Julia Roberts plays a teacher in the mid-1950's when colleges like Wellesley seem to exist just to prepare young women to be housewives, not independent people. Similar to 'To Sir with Love', the teacher has to not only teach, but inspire her students to strive to do the best they can.
Mona Lisa Smile tries to be something unique and relies on it's all-star female audience far too much. Although I did enjoy it, there seems to be no real qualities to the plot. The cast really keeps your interest in this film and the social context, in which it's set, leaves you with some interesting questions.Maybe not Mona Lisa... - RxWiz
but an excellent movie for all young women to see! As always, Julia Roberts gives a great performance as a driving force behind a group of young women starting out in life. And Julia Stiles was also in truly excellent form. This film reminds women everyone that a woman's place is exactly where SHE wants it to be...there is no cookie-cutter solution for anyone. Being part of the working world is as important as being a homemaker and all women should have equal opportunity to choose the path they wish to follow.Important subject matter handled with Grace and Truth - Radio_Jane
Even this long after the womens liberation movement began, There is still no grace or respect accorded to the women whos career was their family. This movie, while telling the story of a woman who went against that, is careful to point out that the women who manned the homefront deserve just as much respect as those who journeyed into the workforce. I applaud Julia Robert's and Julia Stile's performances, as well as the overall respect the picture showed for the period it was representing. Well done movie with great social and historical signifigance
Member Reviews
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Mona Lisa smiles - movie_goer
Julia Roberts plays a teacher in the mid-1950's when colleges like Wellesley seem to exist just to prepare young women to be housewives, not independent people. Similar to 'To Sir with Love', the teacher has to not only teach, but inspire her students to strive ...Maybe not Mona Lisa... - RxWiz
but an excellent movie for all young women to see! As always, Julia Roberts gives a great performance as a driving force behind a group of young women starting out in life. And Julia Stiles was also in truly excellent form. This film reminds women everyone ...Important subject matter handled with Grace and Truth - Radio_Jane
Even this long after the womens liberation movement began, There is still no grace or respect accorded to the women whos career was their family. This movie, while telling the story of a woman who went against that, is careful to point out that the women who ...