The 1998 film Pleasantville, starring Reese Witherspoon and Toby Maguire, is both a candid remark on modern society and a classically entertaining film.
When twins Jennifer and David are sucked into their television and find themselves in the world of a black-and-white 1950s sitcom, their influences on Pleasantville's pristine community begin to irrevocably change everything.
Jennifer and Daniel begin to introduce the people of Pleasantville to things that have never been explored before, things like sex, self-direction, and creativity. Books appear in the library. Double beds are developped. But most notably, people become coloured. The black and whites and the 'coloured' segregate - with half the town embracing new sides of themselves and the other half actively resisisting, the film captures well the difficulty that arises when people begin to express their true selves.
The film is a great piece of 'bubble gum culture,' that is, it is easy to watch and really easy to enjoy. The message is cear and close to home. The characters are endearing and familiar, the humour is clean and the theme is uplifting.
I highly reccommend Pleasantville to all film lovers. Not only is it something that is great for a Sunday afternoon at home, but it is thought-invoking and a curt remark on societal roles and expectations. Funny and warm, Pleasantville can be enjoyed by everyone.
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