Mona Lisa Smile is a 2003 American drama film produced by Revolution Studios and Columbia Pictures in association with Red Om Films Productions, directed by Mike Newell, written by Lawrence Konner and Mark Rosenthal, and starring Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, and Maggie Gyllenhaal. The title is a reference to the Mona Lisa, the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci, and to the song of the same name, originally performed by Nat King Cole, which was covered by Seal for the movie. Julia Roberts received a record $25 million for her performance, the highest ever earned by an actress at that time.

Plot

In 1953, Katherine Ann Watson, a 30-year-old graduate student in the department of Art History at UCLA and Oakland State, takes a position teaching History of Art at Wellesley College.

At her first class, Katherine discovers her students have memorized the entire textbook and syllabus, so she introduces them to modern art and encourages discussion about what is good art. Katherine comes to know them, seeking to inspire them to achieve more than marriage.

Highly opinionated Elizabeth Betty Warren is outspokenly conservative. She does not understand why Katherine is not married and insists there is a universal standard for good art. She writes editorials for the college paper, exposing campus nurse Amanda Armstrong as a supplier of contraception, resulting in her termination.

Other editorials attack Katherine for advocating that women seek a career instead of being wives and mothers. Betty cannot wait to marry Spencer and expects the traditional exemptions from attending class as a married woman; however, Katherine insists she will be marked on merit.

Constance Connie Baker begins dating Betty s cousin, Charlie, but Betty tells her he is to marry Deb MacIntyre. Connie ends the relationship, believing Betty. However, some weeks later, Connie and Charlie reconnect, with him telling her he had stopped seeing Deb after the previous summer.

Joan Brandwyn dreams of being a lawyer and is enrolled as prelaw, so Katherine encourages her to apply to Yale Law School. Accepted, she still opts to play the traditional role of a housewife to Tom Donegal. She tells Katherine that choosing to be a wife and mother does not reduce her intelligence.

Giselle Levy has several lovers and liberal views about sex. She admires Katherine for encouraging the students to be independent. Giselle earns Betty s enmity, who is very conservative.

Katherine declines a proposal from her California boyfriend as she does not love him enough and begins seeing the Wellesley Italian professor, Bill Dunbar. He is charming and full of stories about Europe and his heroic actions in Italy during the war. He has also had affairs with students (including Giselle), and Katherine makes him promise he will stop.

The relationship progresses, but when Katherine learns that Bill spent the entire war at the Army Languages Center on Long Island, she breaks up with him. He responds that Katherine did not come to Wellesley to help the students find their way, but rather her way.

Betty s marriage falls apart after Spencer has an affair, and her mother orders her to return to her husband rather than offer support. She visits Giselle in her dorm, who comforts her. In turn, Betty regrets how she s treated Katherine with her poor behavior. Eventually, influenced by her, Betty files for divorce and looks for an apartment in Greenwich Village.

When Mrs. Warren confronts Betty for what she has done, she reveals her frustration with her mother for not supporting her when she asked for it. She says the only person who cared about her enough to help her out was Katherine. Therefore, Betty reveals she is going to have a life of her own, living with Giselle, and is considering applying to Yale Law School.

Katherine s course is highly popular, so she is invited to return, but under these conditions: she must follow the syllabus, submit lesson plans for approval and keep a strictly professional relationship with all faculty members and students.

Katherine decides to leave to explore Europe. In the final scene, Betty dedicates her last editorial to Katherine, calling her an extraordinary woman who lived by example and compelled us all to see the world through new eyes. As she leaves in a taxi, all her students follow on their bicycles with Betty reaching to say goodbye until the taxi speeds away.

Cast

• Julia Roberts as Katherine Ann Watson
• Kirsten Dunst as Elizabeth Betty Warren (Jones)
• Julia Stiles as Joan Brandwyn (Donegal)
• Maggie Gyllenhaal as Giselle Levy
• Ginnifer Goodwin as Constance Connie Baker
• Laura Allen as Susan Delacorte
• Tori Amos as wedding singer
• Emily Bauer as a student
• Jordan Bridges as Spencer Jones
• Marcia Gay Harden as Nancy Abbey
• Lisa Roberts Gillan as Miss Albini
• Topher Grace as Tommy Donegal
• Annika Marks as a student
• Donna Mitchell as Mrs. Warren
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Charlie Stewart
• Lily Rabe as a student
• Krysten Ritter as a student
• Terence Rigby as Dr. Edward Staunton
• Marian Seldes as President Jocelyn Carr
• John Slattery as Paul Moore
• Juliet Stevenson as Amanda Armstrong
• Dominic West as Bill Dunbar

Soundtrack

Mona Lisa Smile
Soundtrack album by Various
Released	December 19, 2003
Genre	Jazz • easy listening • big band
Length	48:27
Label	Sony Music

No.	Title	Performer	Length
1.	Mona Lisa	Seal	3:11
2.	You Belong to Me	Tori Amos	3:03
3.	Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered	Celine Dion	2:45
4.	The Heart of Every Girl	Elton John	3:40
5.	Santa Baby	Macy Gray	3:29
6.	Murder, He Says	Tori Amos	3:22
7.	Besame Mucho	Chris Isaak	2:46
8.	Secret Love	Mandy Moore	3:40
9.	What ll I Do	Alison Krauss	3:12
10.	Istanbul (Not Constantinople)	The Trevor Horn Orchestra	2:26
11.	Sh-Boom (Life Could Be a Dream)	The Trevor Horn Orchestra	2:49
12.	I m Beginning to See the Light	Kelly Rowland	1:47
13.	I ve Got the World on a String	Lisa Stansfield	2:20
14.	Smile	Barbra Streisand	4:17
15.	Suite	Rachel Portman	5:33
Total length:			48:27

Box office

In its first weekend, Mona Lisa Smile opened at #2 at the U.S. Box office, earning $11,528,498 USD behind The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. By the end of its run, while the film had grossed $141,337,989 worldwide, its U.S. domestic gross did not meet its $65 million budget, falling short at $63,860,942.

Reception

Mona Lisa Smile received mixed to negative reviews from film critics. Critical aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes gives the movie a 34% rotten rating, based on 152 reviews, with an average rating of 4.93/10. The website s critical consensus reads, Though Mona Lisa Smile espouses the value of breaking barriers, the movie itself is predictable and safe. On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 45 out of 100, based on 40 critics, indicating mixed or average reviews .

In a typical review, Claudia Puig of USA Today wrote, it s Dead Poets Society as a chick flick, without the compelling drama and inspiration… even Roberts doesn t seem convinced. She gives a rather blah performance as if she s not fully committed to the role… Rather than being a fascinating exploration of a much more constrained time in our social history, the film simply feels anachronistic. The film deserves a solid C for mediocrity and muted appeal. Critic Elizabeth M. Tamny of the Chicago Reader shared this negative assessment, writing Part of the problem is simply that Mona Lisa Smile is a Hollywood film, and Hollywood isn t good at depicting the life of the mind… And Julia Roberts is no help–you either like her or you don t, but either way it has little to do with talent. She s not so much an actor as a vessel for earnest reactions. The fact is… It s easier to take on an extremely black-and-white version of the most salient question from this film–can women bake their cake and eat it too?–than try to answer it in the present.

David Ansen of Newsweek wrote, What drew the usually astute Mike Newell ( Four Weddings and a Funeral , Donnie Brasco ) to this project? There are hints that the script (credited to Mark Rosenthal and Lawrence Konner) may once have had more shadings–a suggestion that Katherine s idealism is a form of power-tripping; that she s afraid of intimacy–but any ambiguity is quickly brushed aside to make way for the Julia lovefest. Newell, no hack, tries not to milk the cliches shamelessly, and that may be the movie s final undoing. Lacking the courage of its own vulgarity, Mona Lisa Smile is as tepid as old bathwater.

Accolades

Association	Category	Recipient	Results
Critics Choice Movie Award	Best Song	Elton John Bernie Taupin	Nominated
Golden Globe Award	Best Original Song		Nominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award	Best Use of Previously Published or Recorded Music	—	Nominated
Satellite Award	Best Original Song	Elton John	Nominated
Teen Choice Award	Choice Movie Actress – Drama/Action-Adventure	Julia Stiles	Nominated
	Choice Movie – Sleazbag	Kirsten Dunst	Nominated

Reaction from Wellesley and Wellesley alumnae

The college issued an official statement explaining their decision to allow the film to shoot on campus.

In a message to Wellesley alumnae concerning the film, Wellesley College president Diana Chapman Walsh expressed regret about some of the reactions it generated, given that many alumnae from the 1950s felt that the film s portrayal of Wellesley was inaccurate.

Year	2003
ReleaseDate	2003-12-19
RuntimeMins	117
RuntimeStr	1h 57min
Plot	A free-thinking art professor teaches conservative 1950s Wellesley girls to question their traditional social roles.
Awards	Awards, 6 nominations
Directors	Mike Newell
Writers	Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal
Stars	Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles
Produced by	Richard Baratta,Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas,Joe Roth,Paul Schiff,Deborah Schindler
Music by	Rachel Portman
Cinematography by	Anastas N. Michos
Film Editing by	Mick Audsley
Casting By	Ellen Chenoweth,Susie Farris
Production Design by	Jane Musky
Art Direction by	Patricia Woodbridge
Set Decoration by	Susan Bode,Chris Nickerson
Costume Design by	Michael Dennison
Makeup Department	Carla Antonino,Kristen Barry,Margot Boccia,John Caglione Jr.,Robert Chiu,Jane Choi,Bonnie Clevering,Mary Cooke,Richard Dean,Paula Dion,Joseph Farulla,Donna Marie Fischetto,Rob Fitz,Lisa Hazell,Michelle Johnson,Frances A. Kolar,Heidi Kulow,Navya La Shay,Christine Leiter,Gary Martori,Brenda McNally,Kyra Panchenko,Kerrie R. Plant,John Quaglia,Lyndell Quiyou,Joanna Raskin,Joe Rossi,Sherryn Smith,Mary Anne Spano,Rebecca Woodfork,Jeni Zaharian,Nicki Ledermann,Trish Seeney
Production Management	Richard Baratta,Tania Blunden,Paula McBreen,Charles Newirth,Pamela Thur
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director	David Eric Chapman,Nancy Hermann,Eddie Micallef,Joseph P. Reidy,Paul Schiff,Noelle Stehman,Christopher Surgent,Glen Trotiner
Art Department	Joseph Alfieri,Peter Allburn,Laura Lambert Andrusko,JoAnn Atwood,Toni Barton,Mickey Carter,James Donahue,Monica Fedrick,Ray Fisher,Mark Fitzgibbons,Kyra Friedman Curcio,Shawn Gamache,Scott Gertsen,Robert Griffon Jr.,Denise Gurkas,Michael Kall,Darrell K. Keister,Marion Kolsby,Barbra Matis,Butch McCarthy,John McDonnell,Jeff Naparstek,Garry Pastore,John Victor Patterson,Ivan Pazlamatchev,Addison Pettit,Gerarda Pizzarello,Brett Pransky,Jeremy D. Pratt,Paul Richards,Adam Roffman,Daniel Rosenfeld,Sherryl Sachs,Michael Scarola,Jim Schneider,Kurt Smith,Carl Sprague,Theodore Suchecki,Joseph Michael Tenga,Susan Uriarte,Dave Weinman,Alyssa Winter,Melissa Cooperman,Sarah Dennis,Flo Frintzilas,Peter Letzelter-Smith,Hollywood Nick Pagani,Molly Page
Sound Department	Mark Auguste,Sam Auguste,Peter Burgis,Tim Cavagin,Colin Cooper,Colette D. Dahanne,Andie Derrick,Peter Gleaves,Phillip A. Hamilton,Lee Kerr,Sean Landeros,Daniel Laurie,Kim Maitland,Michael Miller,T.J. O Mara,James Seddon,Steve Single,Greg Steele,Derek Trigg,Joe White,G. John Garrett,Suzie Hollander
Special Effects by	William Billy Jack Jakielaszek
Visual Effects by	Marcus Alexander,Randall Balsmeyer,Timothy Michael Cairns,Michael Eaves,Drew Jones,Kevin Lin,Christian Manz,Nicholas Seal,Thomas Mathai
Camera and Electrical Department	Bill Almeida,Tony Arnaud,Woody Bell,Braden Belmonte,Arnold F. Brown,Kenny Burke,Ronald Burke,Paul Candrilli,Mel Cannon,Rick Cardillo,Andrew Cheung,Robert Clark,Stephen Consentino,Brian Corbett,Ralph G. Crowley,Peter D Angelo,Andy Day,John S. DeSimone,Karen L. Dicey,James Edmiston,Rachelle Fankhauser,Kevin Flynn,Dave Freeth,Daryl Furr,Jamie Gallagher,Jim Galvin,Christopher F. Graneto,Michael N. Green,Shawn Greene,Charlie Grubbs,Michael Guerra,Timothy Healy,William Hines,Michael Hunold,Mary Anne Janke,Jessica Jennings,Brian R. Johnson,Brendan Keefe,Chris Kilduff,Zachary K. Lazar,Christopher Liscinsky,Chris Lombardozzi,John R. Loyd,Brendon Malone,Roger Marbury,Bob Marshak,Peter Masterson,Kevin McKenna,Hollis Meminger,Tim Metivier,James R. Mitchell,Daniel Moder,Ed Nessen,Heather Norton,Anna Novick,Rocco Palmieri,Michael Peterson,Balint Pinczehelyi,Brian A. Pitts,Tom Prate,Mike Reed,Kyle Rudolph,Lowell Schulman,Tom Shinn,Susan Starr,Craig Striano,Chad Strohmayer,Darrell Temple,Irapaul Turner,Tom Vulliez,Frans Wetterings III,Richard Yacuk,Paul Goroff,Ian Speed
Casting Department	Vanessa Baker,Brendan Donnison,Peter Dudgeon,Kevin Fennessy,Stephanie Holbrook,Anna Maniscalco,Cindy Morton,Jennifer Sabel,Grant Wilfley
Costume and Wardrobe Department	Wayne Allen,Susan Bakula,Jodi Baldwin,Brian K. Barnes,Stephanie Biear,Sandra Bojin-Sedlik,Sabrina Calley,Susan Carrano,Patrick Chevillot,Charles C. Crutchfield,David Davenport,Richelle Devereaux-Murray,Bobbie Frankel,Lara Greene,Amy Habacker,Addie Hall,Mei Lai Hippisley Coxe,Debbie Holbrook,Joni M. Huth,Nina Johnston,John Kouromihelakis,Lisa Lesniak,Debbie Lucas,Fionnuala M. Lynch,Estella Marie,Dorothy Masters,Bryan Mathison,Aimee McCue,Alethea McElroy,MJ McGrath,Winsome G. McKoy,Maggie Morgan,Margaret Palmer,Chris Ann Pappas,Jonny Pray,Dana Schaefer,Carolyn Schnitzer,Tom Soluri,Thomas Stokes,Hartsell Taylor,Fran Vega-Buck,Pete White,Susan J. Wright
Editorial Department	Aisha Bicknell,Steve Calalang,Dan Greeney,Andrew Haigh,Jack Lewars,Lea Morement,Chris Regan,Dan Roberts,Patricia Sztaba,Stan Sztaba,Zeborah Tidwell
Location Management	Joseph Aquino,Claudia Bestor,Patty Carey,Gregory Chiodo,Ged Dickersin,Jason Farrar,Joe Gagnepain,Jose F. Guerrero,George Herthel,Jule Ann Jappe,Dan Kemp,Michael Kriaris,David M. McGuire,Kip Myers,Erik Neldner,Lyn Pinezich,Robin F. Samson,Ethan Smith,Doug Wilson,Randy Manion
Music Department	Jeff Atmajian,Pete Beachill,Dave Bishop,Richard Bissill,Tom Brown,Nicholas Bucknall,Mary Carewe,Sophie Cornet,Chris Cozens,Chris Dibble,Michael Dore,Jim Dunbar,Tony Finno,Michael Higham,Tom Jenkins,Lewis Jones,Skaila Kanga,Mike Lovatt,Randall Poster,Andy Richards,Kevin Townend,Bruce White,Jonathan Williams,Warren Zielinski,Rachel Bolt,Dave Jewerén Moore
Script and Continuity Department	Lisa Katcher
Transportation Department	Denise Avallon,Robert Buckman,James Collins,David Conelli,Edward Devereaux II,Michael Hyde,Bobby Marsh,Robert Martini
Additional Crew	Nathan Adloff,Amira Bailey,Robin Borden,Kelly Britt,Keira Bromberg,Jana Camacho,Jeff Caron,Kerry Carter,David Catalano,Al Cerullo,Christian H. Clark,Rashad Clinton,Cristie Schoen Codd,Kelly Cronin,Adam Davenport,Philip DeRise,David John Ferguson,Dan Furst,Marisa Yeres Gill,Ginger Gonzalez,Kristen Marie Holly,Kerry Kane,Ian Kennedy,Chrissy Kernes,Scott Kordish,Laura H. Kreft,Julie Kuehndorf,Stephen L Heureux,Stephanie Langhoff,Kathryn Malone,Jennifer Marbury,Yvonne Marceau,Scott Masterson,Christie Mattull,Bruno Michels,Meg Montagnino-Jarrett,Taylor Norton,Anna Novick,Greg Outcalt,Scooter Perrotta,Danielle Perry,Luke Poling,Elizabeth Puccini,Meredith Rose,Timothy Rose,Henri Sann,Erin Sarofsky,Ellen Stafford,Constantine P. Stamos,Eugene Stamos,Jillian Stein,Mason Steinberg,Kevin Vargus,Julie Wagner,Michael L. Walker,Derek Wimble,Janice Yang,Shangyu Yin,Christopher Zatta,Andrew Zee,Peter Pamela Rose
Genres	Drama
Companies	Revolution Studios, Red Om Films
Countries	USA
Languages	English, Italian
ContentRating	PG-13
ImDbRating	6.5
ImDbRatingVotes	83099
MetacriticRating	45
Keywords	teacher student relationship,no opening credits,women's liberation,year 1953,reference to the atomic bomb