Mona Lisa Smile(2003)

This is a drama film set in the middle of the post-war period, when the changes that ended up exploding in the 60s began to take shape and it focuses on a professor of modern art, with progressive ideas who teaches her class and ideas at the University of Wellesley, clashing with the paradigm of the time in which it was more important for a woman to get married and raise a family than to get a college degree.

It was directed by Mike Newell, British film and television director, known for directing several episodes of the series: The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones and the film Four Weddings and a Funeral, while the screenplay was in charge of Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal.

The leading role was played by Julia Roberts, multiple award winner including three Oscars, one as best supporting actress for the film Steel Magnolias in 1990 and 2 as best actress for Pretty Woman in 1991 and Erin Brockovich in 2001, who played Katherine Watson.

She is joined by an interesting cast including Kirsten Dunst as Elizabeth "Betty" Warren. Julia Stiles as Joan Brandwyn, Maggie Gyllenhaal as Giselle Levy, Dominic West as Bill Dunbar, Ginnifer Goodwin as Connie Baker and Marcia Gay Harden as Nancy Abbey.

The budget for the realization of the film was quite high, over 72 million dollars, however the collection that was more than 141 million doubled it.

Although the acceptance of the public was evident, the criticism about it was mixed, the negative came from academics who consider its script very predictable and unadventurous, however there are those who consider it revolutionary for the conservative thinking, still in force, that women should marry and be subject to their partner.

The positive valuation of the film has increased over time with the change of paradigms and the new anti macho currents.

Personally, I enjoyed it as a family and for that you have to transport yourself to that time and forget that we are in 2023.