Mona Lisa Smile is a 2003 American drama film directed by Mike Newell and written by Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal. The film stars Julia Roberts as Katherine Watson, Kirsten Dunst as Betty Warren, Julia Stiles as Joan Brandwyn, and Maggie Gyllenhaal as Giselle Levy. Set in 1953, the story follows Katherine Watson, an art history instructor who accepts a teaching position at Wellesley College, a prestigious women's college in Massachusetts. There, she finds herself confronting the conservative expectations placed on her students, many of whom are being prepared primarily for marriage rather than professional careers.
Plot
In 1953, Katherine Ann Watson leaves California to begin teaching art history at Wellesley College. She arrives expecting to teach some of the brightest young women in the country, but quickly discovers that her students have already memorized the prescribed textbook and course material before attending her first class. Rather than simply repeating what they already know, Katherine challenges them to look at art differently and to think for themselves.
Katherine's approach immediately conflicts with the traditional atmosphere of Wellesley. The college expects its students to follow established social conventions, and marriage is considered an important part of their future. Katherine, however, believes that her students should consider possibilities beyond becoming wives and homemakers.
One of Katherine's most outspoken students is Betty Warren, who strongly believes in the traditional role expected of women. Betty is also influential among her classmates and writes editorials for the college newspaper. She becomes openly critical of Katherine's teaching methods and particularly objects to Katherine's suggestion that women should pursue lives and careers beyond marriage.
Another student, Joan Brandwyn, is more conflicted. Joan is engaged to Tommy Donegal and dreams of becoming a lawyer. Encouraged by Katherine, she applies to Yale Law School and is accepted. Katherine sees the opportunity as an important step toward Joan's independence.
Betty, meanwhile, marries her fiancé, Spencer Jones, while still attending Wellesley. During Betty's absence on her honeymoon, the atmosphere in Katherine's class becomes more relaxed, and the students begin to engage more openly with her ideas.
Katherine also develops relationships with people outside her classroom. She becomes close to fellow professor Bill Dunbar, an Italian history professor who has a reputation for relationships with female students. Giselle Levy, one of Katherine's students, has previously been involved with Bill and remains emotionally attached to him. Katherine eventually begins a relationship with Bill herself.
Katherine's personal life is also complicated by the arrival of her boyfriend, Paul Moore, from California. Paul proposes marriage, but Katherine does not accept his proposal, and the relationship ends.
Meanwhile, Katherine continues encouraging Joan to pursue her ambitions. When Joan decides to marry Tommy instead of attending Yale, Katherine is disappointed but accepts that the decision belongs to Joan. Joan explains that choosing marriage does not necessarily mean that she has abandoned her ambitions, because she genuinely wants the life she has chosen.
Betty becomes increasingly unhappy in her marriage. She discovers that Spencer has been unfaithful to her, although she initially refuses to accept that her marriage is falling apart. Her frustration causes her to become increasingly hostile toward the people around her, particularly Giselle.
Betty also interferes in the relationship between her cousin Charlie and Connie Baker, one of Katherine's students. Betty convinces Connie that Charlie is involved with another woman, causing Connie to end the relationship. Eventually, Connie discovers that Betty lied to her, and she and Charlie reconcile.
Katherine later discovers that Bill has lied to her about his past. He had claimed to have served in Italy during the war, but she learns that he had actually been stationed at the Army Languages Center on Long Island. Realizing that he has deceived her, Katherine ends their relationship.
Betty's marriage eventually collapses. After Spencer's affair becomes impossible for her to ignore, Betty leaves him, although her mother pressures her to forgive him and preserve the marriage. Betty confronts Giselle, who knows about Spencer's affair. Instead of continuing their hostility, Betty breaks down emotionally, and Giselle comforts her.
As the school year comes to an end, Katherine's art history course has become extremely popular. The Wellesley administration offers her the opportunity to return for another year, but only under conditions that would restrict her teaching methods, including requiring her lesson plans to be reviewed in advance.
Katherine refuses to accept those conditions and decides to leave Wellesley.
Betty, who has changed significantly during the year, writes an editorial dedicated to Katherine. She acknowledges the impact Katherine has had on her and her classmates and recognizes that Katherine taught them to look at the world differently.
After Katherine leaves the college, her students follow her on their bicycles as she departs, giving her an emotional farewell. Katherine leaves Wellesley, having challenged her students to think independently and decide for themselves what kind of lives they want to lead.
Rating: 10 Stars
