Gary Ross is responsible for writing, co-producing, and directing the American teen fantasy comedy-drama film Pleasantville, released in 1998. The plot revolves around two siblings trapped in a television show from the 1950s that takes place in a fictional Midwestern town populated by seemingly ideal citizens (Chitwood, 2022). Although they are held captive against their will, the siblings decide to investigate their surroundings, which ultimately results in a significant shift in the neoliberal consensus.
David was shy, awkward, and innocent before he ended up in Pleasantville, but he was starting to come out of his shell. This is due to David’s inability to truly fit into the 1990s, the decade in which he was born (Chitwood, 2022). On the other hand, Jennifer was unmotivated, self-centred, and boy-crazy. Jennifer never gave her classes much thought in the real world, but she changed after meeting some attractive students at Pleasantville High. She started to accept her life as a do-gooder student and adored daughter Mary Sue—especially if she could give her new character a wild side.
Although Jennifer and David are entirely different from one another, they both have self-discovery and self-realization experiences when they encounter the 1950s’ idolized dream world. Jennifer starts to care about her education, stops being as shallow, learns to prioritize literature above boys, and stops feeling the need to fit in (Chitwood, 2022). The people of Pleasantville start to look up to David as he grows increasingly self-assured and outspoken. In addition, Jennifer and David did not get along well with their mother because she could leave them alone to spend time with her young boyfriend. Additionally, David is drawn to the television show Pleasantville because it portrays the ideal family he admires. He is attempting to escape his deviant parents, the constant arguing him and his sister have, and the fact that everyone thinks he is a dork who leaves in a fantasy television sitcom, Pleasantville.
Since it demonstrates that males were seen as superior to women in the 1950s, the marriage of George and Betty Parker reflects the gender realm norms of the time. George expected to be the head of his family such that his wife and children should follow everything he said. On the other hand, Betty expected to always submit to her husband’s wishes (Chitwood, 2022). George also expected to support his family financially, with Betty staying home to care for the household and do tasks like cooking. Although these expectations were not expected to change, they did, and Betty now resists George’s request to cover up her color.
Although today’s culture values individuality and uniqueness, most Americans tried to conform in the 1950s. The movie Pleasantville serves as an excellent metaphor for this concept. The film Pleasantville brilliantly illustrates the perils of conforming to societal norms and the liberties that come from rejecting them in favor of innovation. Gary Ross employs color (symbolism) and character development, among other literary devices, to highlight the decline of originality and innovation in contemporary culture (Chitwood, 2022). Ross shows throughout the film how stifling conformity can be to society and how gratifying it can be to rebel against conventional standards, both for personal development and for the more excellent well. This type of conformity is depicted in the movie when a shop writes a big poster displaying their rejection of people of color who have embraced change.
The film makes a clever attempt at commenting on segregation using metaphor. Jennifer and David’s questioning and instigating change beyond this limited and restricted environment causes a metamorphosis from black and white to color. At the beginning of this trend, Pleasantville citizens tend to disregard the questioning. What is happening baffles them, but they are trying to remain optimistic while waiting for it to pass. After that, they become perplexed, afraid, and finally furious at the situation (Chitwood, 2022). This results in full-color persons being socially isolated and even harassed. Even a storefront with a “No Coloreds Allowed” sign can be seen in the film. The events depicted in films are merely symbols of the real-life struggles for civil rights that occurred during the time.
When the repairman initially takes David and Jennifer to Pleasantville, he finds it funny since he believes he is doing them a favor by transporting them there. As a direct consequence of this, he discovers that he is amused. On the other hand, the repairman’s reactions turned out to be melancholy as the changes that David and Jennifer had brought about began to take effect (Chitwood, 2022). As a result, the mysterious repairman tries to persuade them to go back home, which proves successful near the film’s conclusion.
I think the trailer does an excellent job of making viewers want to see the entire film. The plot opens with a visual and narrative depiction of Jennifer and David’s unfortunate entrapment in the fictional 1950s television series The Pleasantville. In addition, the trailer quickly flips to depict how David and Jennifer’s arrival alters the conduct of people in a world where they had previously conformed to societal norms (Chitwood, 2022). In the film, these shifts are represented by characters suddenly turning to the color red. As a rule, the trailer will showcase these moments to entice potential viewers.
Jennifer and David (aka Mary Sue and Bud) are seen reacting angrily to their new surroundings in Pleasantville at the start of the film. David tries to negotiate with the repairman through the Parkers’ television, but his efforts are ultimately fruitless. David and Jennifer are in the strange but pleasant town playing the roles of the show’s main protagonists, Bud and Mary Sue Parker (Chitwood, 2022). Citizens of Pleasantville have no idea there is a world outside their village, as all roads lead back to their starting points. In conclusion, David begins to take pleasure in his new position, and Jennifer finds a new passion for reading. Nonetheless, the town undergoes dramatic transformations due to David and Jennifer’s arrival, including the addition of firefighters, increased awareness of neighboring communities, and the construction of new roadways. Generally, I was taken aback by this news since I could not fathom how just two people could make such a drastic shift to an entire city.
Initially, George and Betty had a wonderful married life, and I would like nothing more than for them to reunite. However, her hopes for the marriage will shift due to Jenifer and David’s newfound stability. Betty can make her own decisions and live the way she wants. Moreover, she is liberated from the role of a traditional housewife trapped in an unhappy marriage (Chitwood, 2022). George needs to adjust his perspective to account for the transformation’s impact on Betty.
The movie gives the impression that Pleasantville is a place where sin does not exist, so I think it would be a great place to live. Even if the alterations that David and Jennifer have introduced to the city have had a considerable impact on it, I have not changed my view about living there because the vast majority of the residents are still lovely. Additionally, the fact that the characters’ lives are so simple and risk-free was my favorite part of the film. This is because nothing ever goes wrong, and the town is portrayed as a picture-perfect setting free of upsetting things (Chitwood, 2022). On the other, I disliked that both Jennifer and David brought changes that seemed evil to the people of Pleasantville.
Within the context of this movie, Betty is my favorite character. In the sitcom universe, she is married to George and the mother of David’s and Jennifer’s characters, Bud and Mary Sue. I found Betty compelling because she develops feelings for Bill Johnson, a local artist, while the town begins to transform. This was a sign that something needed to change in her life, and the realization that she needed that progressive enhancement helped her realize that she could be happy. When Jennifer teaches her about masturbation and starts having an affair with Bill, she becomes one of the only adults in Pleasantville who embraces her newfound vibrancy (Chitwood, 2022). Her offspring have encouraged her to stop acting like a doormat at home.
Overall, Jennifer and David’s absence from the Pleasant villa improved the community. Due to the absence of crime, the city’s residents could live without needing any institutions. In addition, marriages were excellent because all parties knew the roles they were supposed to play in the union. However, the coming of Jennifer and David brought about a drastic change that turned the holy city into a sinful one. After immortality was unleashed onto the city, there was no way to turn back the clock.
Reference
Chitwood, A. (2022). Pleasantville’s themes of repression remain potent 20 years later. Collider. Web.