Mike Newell's MONA LISA SMILE is a pretty period film that combines a quaint pedagogical tale with a feminist dissection of traditional female roles in 1950s society. Julia Roberts leads an impressive cast of top young actresses including Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kirsten Dunst, and Julia Stiles. Roberts is Katherine Watson, a revolutionary art history teacher at Wellesley College in 1953. Though she has true admiration for her intelligent all-female students, she is perturbed that their interest in finding husbands takes precedence over their studies. Determined to instruct them in feminist values and teach them to be independent--defying the college's emphasis on breeding good wives, mothers, and homemakers--Watson is deemed subversive by the administration. Even Watson's identity--from California, over 30 years old, and unmarried--is problematic. And when she turns her class onto modern art rather than teaching the recommended classical curriculum, Watson is severely chastised by the staunchly conservative students and faculty.

Beautiful photography of the picture-perfect Wellesley campus combined with a perpetual parade of lovely period costumes makes MONA LISA SMILE a visual delight. Strong performances by each of the actresses, including Dunst uncharacteristically cast as a prim and proper prude, and Marcia Gay Harden as a boring tv-addicted spinster, only add to the splendor of this enjoyable film.

Theatrical Release: DECEMBER 19, 2003

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital 2.0 - French
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Additional Release Material:
Trailers
Art Forum
College Then and Now
Music Video: Elton John "The Heart of Every Girl"
What Women Wanted: 1953
Text/Photo Galleries:
Filmographies

Julia Roberts: Oscar-winning American actress, ERIN BROCKOVICH
Maggie Gyllenhaal: American actor, SECRETARY/STRANGER THAN FICTION
Kirsten Dunst: American actor, INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE/BRING IT ON
Julia Stiles: 
Marcia Gay Harden: Oscar winning american actress, POLLOCK
Dominic West: Actor, 28 DAYS, THE WIRE, CHICAGO (2002)
Ginnifer Goodwin: Actor, MONA LISA SMILE (2003)
Topher Grace: American actor, That '70s Show/TRAFFIC
Juliet Stevenson: British Actress

Mike Newell: British Director

Elaine Goldsmith: Producer, MAID IN MANHATTAN (2002)
Deborah Schindler: Associate Producer
Paul Schiff: 

Mark Rosenthal: Screenwriter/Director
Lawrence Konner: SCREENWRITER/PRODUCER

Rachel Portman: Composer

"If Ms. Roberts is the undisputed star of MONA LISA SMILE, she graciously allows her acolytes plenty of opportunity to sparkle."
"[A] stunningly executed example of period production design."
"[An] appealing period drama..."
"[O]bservant and thoughtful..."
"Roberts' famous smile suits this material....The support is strong too: MONA LISA SMILE might be read as a master-class for the next generation of Hollywood leading women."