Nothing is as simple as black and white.|Sep. 17, 1998|United States|124 Min.|PG-13
Genre: Comedy;Drama;Fantasy
Description: High school siblings David and Jennifer have very different personalities: Jennifer is superficial, while David is obsessed with watching “Pleasantville,” a black-and-white 1950s sitcom about the perfect Parker family. One evening, while their mother is away, the siblings argue over the TV, accidentally breaking the remote. A mysterious TV repairman appears, gives them a unique remote control, and leaves. When they use it, David and Jennifer are transported into the black-and-white world of “Pleasantville,” finding themselves in the Parkers’ living room.
David tries to contact the repairman through the Parkers’ TV, but the repairman insists that Pleasantville is better than reality and they should be grateful to be there. Now forced to assume the roles of characters Bud and Mary Sue Parker, the siblings navigate the peculiar town. Fire doesn’t exist, roads loop endlessly, and the townspeople are unaware of anything beyond their idyllic world. David warns Jennifer to stay in character and avoid disrupting the town.
Jennifer starts dating a classmate but introduces him to the concept of sex, something unknown in Pleasantville. Soon, parts of the town begin to shift from black-and-white to color, starting with flowers and the faces of those experiencing new emotions. Books, rain, and fire begin to appear, and after Jennifer’s influence, many of her peers explore intimacy at Lover’s Lane, turning colorful as well.
Meanwhile, David introduces Bill Johnson, the owner of the soda fountain where Bud works, to modern art through a library book, sparking Bill’s passion for painting. Inspired by Jennifer, Betty discovers self-pleasure and experiences color for the first time after reaching a moment of personal awakening.
Cast director: Gary Ross
Cast actor: Tobey Maguire, Reese Witherspoon, William H. Macy, Joan Allen, Jeff Daniels, J. T. Walsh, Don Knotts, Marley Shelton, Jane Kaczmarek, Giuseppe Andrews
Original name: Pleasantville