Julia Roberts stars as Katherine Watson, a Californian independent-minded art teacher at a New England traditional women's college in the 1950's.

Watson struggles to hold to her ideals in the face of sharp criticism and a rigid conservative atmosphere. Sort of a female "Dead Poet's Society." While the school prepares its students for marriage and housewifedom, Katherine attempts to open their minds to other avenues.

At times, touching, at times, many good points are made, at times un-engaging. After tattling several times, I could not understand why the film's other characters still hung around with the Kirsten Dunst character. Lastly, something about the Italian teacher sleeping with his students, I found repulsive, and since much screen time was given to this character my ability to enjoy the film waned. Too bad too, because Dunst, Stiles, and Roberts are among my favorite actors.