Mona Lisa Smile

Mona Lisa Smile is a 2003 American drama film directed by Mike Newell and written by Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal.

Mona Lisa Smile is a 2003 American drama film directed by Mike Newell and written by Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal. Set at Wellesley College in 1953, it follows an art history teacher who challenges her students’ expectations about women’s roles. The film stars Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Plot

The film centres on Katherine Watson, an art history teacher at Wellesley College who encourages her students to question conventional expectations for women in 1950s America. The story focuses on the tension between academic ambition, marriage, and social conformity.

Cast and production

Mona Lisa Smile stars Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Julia Roberts reportedly received a record $25 million for her role, the highest ever earned by an actress at the time. It was directed by Mike Newell and written by Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal, with production from Revolution Studios and Columbia Pictures.

Release and reception

The film was released in the United States on December 19, 2003. Available sources describe its critical reception as mixed to negative, while noting a substantial worldwide box office gross. It grossed $141.3 million against a $72.3 million budget.

Title and themes

The title references both the Mona Lisa painting and the song 'Mona Lisa', covered by Seal for the film. The film’s themes include women’s roles, education, independence, and social expectations in mid-20th-century America.