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Mona Lisa Smile

  • 20032003
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 57m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
82K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, and Maggie Gyllenhaal in Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
Trailer for Mona Lisa Smile
Play trailer2:32
2 Videos
76 Photos
  • Drama
A free-thinking art professor teaches conservative 1950s Wellesley girls to question their traditional social roles.A free-thinking art professor teaches conservative 1950s Wellesley girls to question their traditional social roles.A free-thinking art professor teaches conservative 1950s Wellesley girls to question their traditional social roles.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
82K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Mike Newell
  • Writers
    • Lawrence Konner
    • Mark Rosenthal
  • Stars
    • Julia Roberts
    • Kirsten Dunst
    • Julia Stiles
Top credits
  • Director
    • Mike Newell
  • Writers
    • Lawrence Konner
    • Mark Rosenthal
  • Stars
    • Julia Roberts
    • Kirsten Dunst
    • Julia Stiles
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 298User reviews
    • 113Critic reviews
    • 45Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 nominations

    Videos2

    Mona Lisa Smile
    Trailer 2:32
    Mona Lisa Smile
    Mona Lisa Smile
    Trailer 2:30
    Mona Lisa Smile

    Photos76

    Julia Roberts in Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
    (L-R) Julia Roberts, Daisy Baldwin, Julia Stiles, Annika Marks.
    Julia Roberts and Julia Stiles in Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
    Julia Roberts in Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
    Julia Roberts in Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
    Julia Roberts in Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
    Julia Roberts in Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
    Julia Roberts in Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
    Julia Roberts in Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
    Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, Ginnifer Goodwin, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Lily Rabe in Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
    Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Maggie Gyllenhaal in Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
    Julia Roberts, Julia Stiles, and Topher Grace in Mona Lisa Smile (2003)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Julia Roberts
    Julia Roberts
    • Katherine Ann Watsonas Katherine Ann Watson
    Kirsten Dunst
    Kirsten Dunst
    • Betty Warrenas Betty Warren
    Julia Stiles
    Julia Stiles
    • Joan Brandwynas Joan Brandwyn
    Maggie Gyllenhaal
    Maggie Gyllenhaal
    • Giselle Levyas Giselle Levy
    Ginnifer Goodwin
    Ginnifer Goodwin
    • Connie Bakeras Connie Baker
    Dominic West
    Dominic West
    • Bill Dunbaras Bill Dunbar
    Juliet Stevenson
    Juliet Stevenson
    • Amanda Armstrongas Amanda Armstrong
    Marcia Gay Harden
    Marcia Gay Harden
    • Nancy Abbeyas Nancy Abbey
    John Slattery
    John Slattery
    • Paul Mooreas Paul Moore
    Marian Seldes
    Marian Seldes
    • President Jocelyn Carras President Jocelyn Carr
    Donna Mitchell
    Donna Mitchell
    • Mrs. Warrenas Mrs. Warren
    Terence Rigby
    Terence Rigby
    • Dr. Edward Stauntonas Dr. Edward Staunton
    Jennie Eisenhower
    Jennie Eisenhower
    • Girl at the Stationas Girl at the Station
    Leslie Lyles
    • Housing Directoras Housing Director
    Laura Allen
    Laura Allen
    • Susan Delacorteas Susan Delacorte
    Topher Grace
    Topher Grace
    • Tommy Donegalas Tommy Donegal
    Lily Lodge
    • House Matronas House Matron
    Jordan Bridges
    Jordan Bridges
    • Spencer Jonesas Spencer Jones
    • Director
      • Mike Newell
    • Writers
      • Lawrence Konner
      • Mark Rosenthal
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In order to prepare for their roles, the leads were all put through a finishing school two weeks prior to filming. However, in contrast to the film's depiction, Wellesley College was never a finishing school. It was a private women's liberal arts college which emphasized social activism.
    • Goofs
      At the wedding, champagne is served in flute glasses. They were rarely used until the 1970s, when drier vintages became preferred. In the 1950s, champagne was served in champagne coupe (or saucer) glasses. They are still used in champagne fountains at weddings.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Betty Warren: My teacher, Katherine Watson, lived by her own definition, and would not compromise that. Not even for Wellesley. I dedicate this, my last editorial, to an extraordinary woman who lived by example and compelled us all to see the world through new eyes. By the time you read this, she'll be sailing to Europe, where I know she'll find new walls to break down and new ideas to replace them with. I've heard her called a quitter for leaving, an aimless wanderer. But not all who wander are aimless. Especially not those who seek truth beyond tradition; beyond definition; beyond the image. We'll never forget you...

    • Crazy credits
      The end credits for the prominent cast and crew are set in front of vintage footage and advertisements showing women in the 1940s and 50s.
    • Connections
      Featured in Late Night with Conan O'Brien: Jude Law/Maggie Gyllenhaal/Michelle Branch (2003)
    • Soundtracks
      Lift Thine Eyes
      from "Elijah"

      Written by Felix Mendelssohn (as Felix Mendelssohn)

      Performed by Wellesley College Chamber Singers

      Lisa Graham Conductor

      Under license from Wellesley College Chamber Singers

    User reviews298

    Review
    Top review
    Finally, a film that doesn't insult our intelligence!
    I didn't expect much going into "Mona Lisa Smile". I figured it was going to be a rehash of all the movies ever made about teachers. You know, from "Goodbye Mr. Chips" and "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie", to "The Dead Poets' Society" and "Mr. Holland's Opus". But "Mona Lisa Smile" pleasantly surprised me, especially the uncompromising, principled ending.

    Another thing that pleased me was the film's assumption of an intelligent, educated audience that does not require any dumbing-down of art and culture. "Mona Lisa Smile" rattles off names of artists and their works as if it fully expected moviegoers to be conversant with them. In at least one case, the film names neither the artist nor the work (Picasso's "Demoiselles d'Avignon"). All of these things are taken as givens, as part and parcel of a sophisticated audience's cultural baggage -- quite a change from the usual pap that Hollywood spoonfeeds us!

    Moreover, the film sometimes speaks volumes by what it doesn't say but simply shows, taking for granted that we will fill in the blanks from our knowledge of the history of the period (that is, the early 1950s). There is one oblique reference to McCarthyism. A photo of an atomic explosion reminds us of the post-WWII, Cold War era. A game show on TV triggers a memory of the payola scandal. Again, "Mona Lisa Smile" credits us with brains rather than insulting our intelligence.

    Mercifully, the title of the film is not simply a reference to Julia Roberts' famous beestung, collagen-enhanced lips. As Kirsten Dunst's character explains toward the end of the movie, Mona Lisa's smile is not necessarily an indication that she is happy and content -- any more than the women of the 1950s with their dream homes and seemingly perfect lives. "Mona Lisa Smile" is ultimately an indictment of those in society who perpetrate and perpetuate secrets and lies, and a tribute to those through whom the truth prevails.
    helpful•55
    10
    • Shakespeare-2
    • Dec 20, 2003

    FAQ2

    • What's the idea behind the movie's title?
    • How does the movie end?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 19, 2003 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Columbia Tristar (France)
      • Sony Pictures Entertainment
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Nụ Cười Nàng Mona Lisa
    • Filming locations
      • Wellesley, Massachusetts, USA
    • Production companies
      • Revolution Studios
      • Red Om Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $65,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $63,860,942
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $11,528,498
      • Dec 21, 2003
    • Gross worldwide
      • $141,337,989
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 57 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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