Pleasantville

We discussed the role of symbols in Pleasantville, as well as the ultimate realities these symbols construct within the movie. In particular, the change to colors, the concepts of veils and rain, and the differences/similarities between the two worlds were fascinating.

• Change to colors: the characters living in Pleasantville awaken into color when they experience something they had been afraid to experience before. Examples: Jenn reading a book, and Dad expressing feelings for his wife.
• Veils and Rain: Veils are used a lot in the film, like when mom puts on grey make-up, then it is removed by the soda shop guy, and the rain comes when there is a sort of cleansing, and a lot of people experience a change to color during or after the storm. storming in beginning, when mom is with soda shop guy, and when bud/david is with teens at lovers lane
• Reality: in the beginning, Mom and Dad are not around, no real affection or family connectedness. David and Jenn aren’t close at all. Yet in Pleasantville there is a very superficial family connection until David and Jennifer arrive and change things around.