Revolutionary Road wasn’t a film that I would have typically watched at the age of 13 when it was released. However, I had an undying love for Leonardo DiCaprio at the time and profusely pleaded with my mother to allow me to go see it. Of course at the time, I didn’t even know what the storyline was and I didn’t really care either. I decided to watch this film again recently; only this time as an adult with a better comprehension.
Revolutionary Road takes place in the early 1960s. A great thing about this film is how accurately the actors and scenery portray this time period. The houses and furniture, the clothes and fashion, and even how women and men were expected to act in their separate gender roles, which can be a bit frustrating to watch in this new generation.
Characters; April Wheeler (Kate Winslet) and Frank Wheeler (Leonardo DiCaprio) meet when they run into each other at a pub on a night out and spend the evening together discussing their dreams and aspirations. April has a passion for becoming an actress and Frank has a passion simply for just feeling alive and living in each moment. Shortly after meeting they tie the knot, have children, and begin their lives in a sweet suburban home at the top of Revolutionary Road. They thought they were doing it all right as this is what life was all about: Marriage, children, beautiful house, the end.
Throughout this film the audience is shown how difficult marriages were in such a difficult time period for both women and men. The Wheeler’s exhibit many different personalities to their neighbour’s, coworkers, and friends. When the Wheeler’s decide to up and leave their suburban life to move to the beautiful country of France, their lives begin to change when a few good and not so good surprises come up along the way.
Revolutionary Road is a Rated R film so I wouldn’t recommend it to be watched by youngsters. If you love a dramatic movie with amazing actors and don’t mind shedding a tear or two then this film is definitely for you.
Rating: 10/10
Words By Brianna Humes