My daughter writes her provincial English test soon. As part of the curriculum, she got to screen 1998's Pleasantville.
One of those movies I knew of, but had not yet seen. . Sometimes better than watching a movie for fun is watching a movie WITH A PURPOSE. So, we sat down and screened it
It was rental via iTunes, for $5.
The story is about a couple of high school teenagers, dealing with the trappings of life: High school popularity angst, a miserable divorced mom, dating, sex. But coming up this weekend is the "Pleasantville" TV marathon and trivia contest. Pleasantville is a 1950's era black and white TV show, with all the stereotypciality of Leave it to Beaver, Father Knows Best, Andy Griffith, Danny Thomas, and Donna Reed all rolled into one.
Through a magical plot device, Don Knotts shows up as the mysterious tv repair man (Wink wink, Andy Griffith show...) and the teens, David and Jennifer, get zapped from 1998 California into Pleasantville, taking on the personas of Bud and MarySue.
Most notably, their entire existence is now in black and white. The world of Pleasantville is indeed pleasant, but stiflingly idyllic, to point of puritanical and repetitive. Just like 1950's tv, there is no sex, the fire department never actually puts out fires, and even the bathrooms have no toilets. The outside-world knowledge that David and Jennifer bring with them begins to alter the ideas and norms of Pleasantville life. And as each resident reach a new level of enlightened change, they themselves change from black and white to colour. And those who have not changed, fearing the differences that have arise, start on their own little Sneeches-like journey. When the "No Coloreds" sign goes up in the department store window, the metaphor hits home like a ton of bricks.
The movie is full of fun throwback references, humour, and meaningful parallels to the journey we all take as we adapt to changes of many kinds.
The 1998 scenes are dated, but so much of the film takes place in the 1950/out-of-time Pleasantville, that it becomes timeless.
I recommend it.
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