Chills ran down my spine as my heart began to explode. I thought to myself, “How can a movie be so powerful in my eyes?” Mike Newell's "Mona Lisa Smile" hit me like a ton of bricks. I couldn't believe how well put this movie was as they screamed in the last scene hearing lines like “But not all who wander are aimless. Especially not those who seek the truth beyond tradition, beyond definition, beyond image. We will never forget you." This 2003 film is set in the 1950s, when everything was different and correct back then. Julia Roberts plays a feminist art teacher who decides to teach at Wellesley, a private, conservative women's liberal arts college in Massachusetts, United States. What her students don't know is that she would change some of their opinions and lives forever. Because Wellesley was such an affluent college, the faculty and staff disapproved of Katherine Watson's (Roberts) idea as a professor. She admits that she has never been to Europe to see any of the historic monuments or famous paintings and puts pain in the eyes of the faculty. He encourages his students to believe in themselves, study to become professionals and improve their economic future. She uses her modern art teachings as a vehicle to convey to young women her opinion that her students do not have to conform to the stereotypes of women created by society. Although many students are put off by Watson's style, as the film progresses, more and more students begin to warm to and in many cases admire her. Betty also returns at the end of the film, despite being its harshest critic. Modern art was something that the faculty and staff frowned upon. He felt that modern art challenged the status quo and could be used as a… paper medium… Wellesley since so many did not approve of it. Watson chooses to leave after a year, but as she leaves campus for the last time, her students run after her car, to show their affection and to thank her for her lessons. The entire departure scene is narrated by Betty who dedicates her final editorial to Watson, stating that Watson is "an extraordinary woman" and an individual who "seeks truth beyond tradition, beyond definition, beyond image". The film ends with Betty struggling to keep up with Watson's taxi as it accelerates, thus depicting her admiration and respect for Watson. This movie had a clear plot from start to finish. Even though I broke down at the end, I felt this movie had a great message: be who you are and do what you want. This place needs you, Katherine. We all do it.__________________________________________Hi, Mona Lisa.