MovieChat Forums > Pleasantville (1998) Discussion > White people and their bubbles

White people and their bubbles


I'm surprised at how many of you missed the point of this movie.

How many actually believe that the 40's and 50's shows like "Leave it to Beaver" was a true description of the time?

I have my nun ruler ready for any risen hand.

What Pleasantville was showing is the process of change when people stop living for superficial reasons.

For example, Pleasantville is basically a neighborhood filled with the Jones. The script is mainstream ideology of their time (the 50's). Jennifer and David are a product of their times stereotypes. David, your classic 90's virginal nerd obsessed with some obscure hobby. Who fantasies about approaching the girl he likes but never gets enough courage to do so. Matched with his sister stereotypical obsession with popularity that she has vapid thoughts and skin deep values.

People in Pleasantville become technicolor when they begin to do something outside of their conformed behavior. Which is the reason why Jennifer/Mary Sue stays monochromatic despite having frequent sex. She begins to change when she turns down Skip to STUDY, something she wouldn't have done for Mark Davis (the guy she bought new panties for). Then Bud/David finally becomes technicolor after he gets the COURAGE to stand up for his Betty.

It is true that people fear change. Which is what the movie shows during the town meeting and how people started harassing the color people (hint hint: American racism).

What this movie is showing is a thing called human nature. It's not about conservatives versus liberals. It's about the human resistance to change. Whether it's a liberal enviroment turning conservative or vice versa.

(P.S. I personally believe that Pleasantville is supposed to be an attack of all those Father Knows Best and Leave it to Beaver shows that ignored the social and political turmoil/changes that was happening during those times i.e WW2,BrownvsBoardofEducation, etc)

Live outside your bubbles people. The world isn't coded in your political leaning. Think more.

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If you would take time to listen to Ross and what he says about making this movie you'd find that you've described it pretty well. Another way to state it is, "Is it better to live in a society with strict rules to ensure absolute safety and happiness, but no choices, or is it ultimately better to have a free society which permits choices, and danger, which we have to learn to deal with, but which may ultimately make our lives more fulfilled?" Ross believes the latter.

The setting in a 1950s sitcom was just a convenient way to set the story up for the eventual outcome. He was never trying to indicate that the 1950s was similar to what is depicted here, but IS similar to the family TV shows popular back then.

..*.. TxMike ..*..
Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes not.

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[deleted]

Yep, that's exactly my take on it.

~*~

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