Pleasantville (1998)Director: Gary Ross

Genre: Fantasy/Comedy/Drama

Achievement Standard 90723

Respond Critically to oral or visual text studiedCredits: 4

Achievement Achievement with Merit

Achievement with Excellence

Develop a critical response to oral or visual text using supporting evidence.

Develop a critical response to oral or visual text that integrates supporting evidence and shows perceptive understanding.

Develop a critical response to oral or visual text that integrates supporting evidence and demonstrates sustained insight.

• Advised to spend only 45 minutes on this paper• Choose ONE question for your chosen visual text.• Write at least 500 words for your essay.• Your essay should develop a critical response based

on close analysis of appropriate text(s).• You should support your ideas with relevant evidence.• You will be rewarded for perceptive understanding and

sustained insight.• Your essay should include: - an introduction, stating clearly the focus and scope

of the argument - a range of appropriate points, supported by accurate

and relevant evidence - a reasoned conclusion.• Your essay should show accurate use and control of the

conventions of academic writing.

• Tokyo Suckerpunch (2008) (pre-production)

• The Tale of Despereaux (2008) (post production)

• The Free State of Jones (2008)

• Seabiscuit (2003) • Pleasantville (1998)

THE MAIN CHARACTERS

• Tobey Maguire as David. David is the protagonist of the film who feels out of place in the 1990s at the beginning of the film and is more at home in the dream world of Pleasantville. After being transported into the world which he idolizes, David begins to realize that the perceived happiness in Pleasantville is not nearly as fulfilling as he hoped it would be. He eventually sees Pleasantville not as the utopia he once imagined but as a dystopia as the freedom of choice and expression is severely limited. His transformation happens as he evolves from dreamy outcast to leader of the changes that take place in Pleasantville.

• Reese Witherspoon as Jennifer. Jennifer, David's twin sister, is in many ways the opposite of her brother. She is initially dismayed upon being transported to Pleasantville with her brother, but her own personality asserts itself, and she sparks the initial changes in the town. As the story continues, she begins to understand the limitations she has placed on herself in her own life. Her reading of a D. H. Lawrence novel signified her effort to change herself, and thus, she effected her own transformation. By the end of the film she decides to stay (for a while) in a place where she has changed and attend college.

• William H. Macy as George Parker. George is the stereotypical 1950's working father with cues directly from shows such as Leave it to Beaver and Father Knows Best. He is very change averse and when the town begins to change he does not know how to cope. He remains black and white through nearly the entire film until David tells him how much he really loves his wife.

• Joan Allen as Betty Parker. Betty starts as the typical 1950's stay at home mother but evolves in emotions much more quickly than her husband. This causes conflict starting with her change from black and white to color after Jennifer recommends masturbation. She initially tries to cover up this affliction but then decides she should not be ashamed. Her love triangle with Bill Johnson also becomes an issue showing that such taboo events did occur even in 1950s culture.

• Jeff Daniels as Bill Johnson. Bill starts the film completely unable to do anything that is not specifically defined in his repetitive list of tasks. This changes however when David inadvertently teaches him a small level of autonomy. This autonomy progresses and Bill begins acting out his desire to be creative and paint. Bill evolves into the central revolutionary in the film going so far as to paint a naked mural on one of his windows. After the town turns fully Technicolor it is revealed in the last shot that George is replaced by him sitting on the bench next to Betty.

THEMEs

IDEALISM VS. REALISM In this image it shows David’s mother arguing on the

phone which is reality and on the television there is Bud and Betty Parker in the 1950’s who are happy and blissful. They portray the ideal family image which David longs for.The ideal world is Pleasantville which is in the 1950’s and the real world is the world that David is currently living in, the 1990’s.

Relationship• David and Jennifer – Bud and Mary-sue

• Mr and Mrs Parker (rain)

• Mrs Parker and Bill Johnson (developed sexual emotions)

• Mr Parker and Big Bob

CHANGE• Music (sound of music – rock ‘n’ roll – Jazz• Black and white – Colour• Emotions (Pleasant – anger, love, sadness.

Curiousity)• Knowledge (books fill in, beyond Pleasantville)• Bud (e.g. stands up for his mother, asks a girl

out)• Mary-Sue (e.g. “I’m studying”)

TECHNIQUES

DIALOGUE• Dialogues is a technique that is used in

the film Pleasantville. They are quotes said by the actors in the film.

• Example: “Honey, I’m home”

• When George Parker returns to an empty house where there’s no family and no dinner. Not something that you would expect to happen in Pleasantville.

COLOUR• Colour is another technique that is used in the film

Pleasantville. Colour plays an important role in this film. It shows the changes that are happening in Pleasantville.

• Example: “The red rose”• Skip Martin sees a Red Rose when he returns from

Lovers Lane after having sex with Mary Sue. A red rose can represent lust and danger. Showing that lust has now entered the world of Pleasantville created by the woman and that danger is on its way. It catches Skips attention because he has never seen such a thing in his life.