Mona Lisa Smile

About Mona Lisa Smile

"Mona Lisa Smile" is a 2003 American drama film produced by Revolution Studios and Columbia Pictures in association with Red Om Films Productions. The plot revolves around a free-thinking art professor who teaches conservative 1950s Wellesley girls to question their traditional societal roles.

The story is set in 1953 at Wellesley College. Katherine Watson, a recent UCLA graduate, is hired to teach art history. The high-minded ideals she tries to instill in her students are met with resistance and backlash by her students. Led by the conservative student Betty Warren, the students try to sabotage Katherine's plans. But, Katherine, however, is determined to break their traditional mindset and show them a different way of thinking.

Making / Production

Mona Lisa Smile was directed by Mike Newell, and produced by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Deborah Schindler, and Paul Schiff. It was filmed on location in Massachusetts and Connecticut on the campuses of Wellesley College, Yale University, and Greenwich Academy.

Actors

• Julia Roberts as Katherine Watson - The liberal, free-thinking art history teacher who tries to break the limits of her conservative students.
• Kirsten Dunst as Betty Warren - a conservative student who initially opposes Katherine's teachings.
• Julia Stiles as Joan Brandwyn - a smart and brave student who dreams of going to law school, inspired by Katherine's teachings.
• Maggie Gyllenhaal as Giselle Levy - a student who shares Katherine's liberal views and is not afraid to express herself.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The Wellesley College campus where ‘Mona Lisa Smile’ is set did not allow the crew to film so the scenes were shot at two all-female liberal arts colleges in the Northeast.
• Famous painting ‘Mona Lisa’ does not appear in its original form anywhere in the movie.

Awards

Julia Roberts was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her performance as Katherine Watson in Mona Lisa Smile.

Quotes

• “You're not required to like me, you're required to do as I say.” - Katherine Watson
• “Not all who wander are aimless. Especially not those who seek truth beyond tradition; beyond definition; beyond the image.” - Betty Warren

Music, Soundtrack

• "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered", Performed by Ella Fitzgerald
• "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)", Performed by The Four Lads