Mona Lisa Smile
Some thoughts about the movie
This post has spoilers. Don’t read this post unless you’ve seen both movies.
I was looking for something interesting to watch on a Friday night. Also, I had not used my Netflix account for a very long time. The chill vibes of my notice period at work have made me relax and pay attention to other interests, especially cinema.
The Plot
The movie captures different aspects of academic life in the conservative Wellesley College, where women are not judged based on their academics, but their ability to land a good husband. The women who are educated here are taught how to ‘behave’. Many of the attendees get married during their course period.
In such an environment, a teacher Katherine Watson enters the scene and tries to share her progressive thoughts (i.e. marriage is not very necessary for a woman’s happiness). She teaches art history beyond the contents of the books (which have been memorised by snobby students before the start of the semester).
Messed Up Personal Life
In spite of her progressive ideals, she seems to be messed up on the personal front. She has a kind of long term relationship which she breaks off when her partner visits her.
Then she indulges in a casual relationship with a colleague who has the reputation of sleeping with his students. But she is kinda “heart-broken” when she finds about his lies regarding his military credentials.
I felt it was not so surprising for a guy without many morals in the first place. Making bad choices and then regretting them is a trope one can see in real life as well.
Katherine’s attempt to preach what to pursue in spite of her students’ awareness about their options was a force fed propaganda. If people willingly make choices in spite of knowing the options it is due to lack of courage. I feel that courage is not a teachable skill.
In spite of all these contradictions, I feel Katherine manages to support a student during her separation (and indirectly inspire her to make that decision). She leaves a positive impression on other students as well.
Similarities and Differences
After finishing this movie, I felt that Mona Lisa Smile is a male version of Dead Poet’s Society. It seems very obvious though there are differences in the kind of themes dealt in both movies.
Let me elaborate.
The setup is in a university where a rebellious lecturer enters the scene and questions status quo.
In the beginning the students are a bit resistant to new ideas but they are forced to question things they held dear to the heart.
Both movies have a student who rebels against the teacher who questions the system.
In the end the teacher is forced to leave because the system refuses to change or make space for their voice. And the students are forced to mourn the loss of their dear teacher.
Now, the structure of two movies seems to be same, but there are distinctions.
For example, Mona Lisa Smile deals with issues related to women, marriage and independence of the female gender. On the other hand, Dead Poets Society is about having the courage to do what one loves irrespective of the societal pressures.
In addition, the end of the movie doesn’t have a drastic tragedy as seen Dead Poets Society if you believe that divorce is not a tragedy.
Conclusion
One’s path to independence and joy can be messy and chaotic, full of missteps and contradictions. You might feel that you landed up in a less than ideal scenario. But you do so without pressure or prescriptions from the society.
It may or may not seem better than the conventional path, but it might bring fulfilment to you. Of course, this path can also end up in a tragedy. You can’t discount the possibility.
Though one might debate the similarities with other movies or the impact of the movie, one can definitely appreciate Julia Roberts’ acting and the visual brilliance of the movie capturing 50s USA.
It is definitely a recommended movie for those in the impressionable age.
I would give a 4/5 rating for the movie (though this writeup was not a spoiler or a review, I did feel like sharing this thought).