Review of Revolutionary Road

Revolutionary Road



The film adaptation of Revolutionary Road, which was originally published as a novel in 1961 explores the themes of fulfilment, and the American Dream in a suburban, mid 1950s backdrop. Prior to the 1960s women’s right movement, the 1950s era for women remained to be a struggle, with “the problem that has no name” as described by Betty Friedman in The Feminine Mystique. The Wheelers’ problems as depicted by this film, are largely manifested by April’s unhappiness who encounters this problem and stimulates a plan to move away from what they feel is the ‘suburban trap’ and lead a more happier life in Paris. There she plans to let Frank stay at home or do whatever he feels, whilst she works to maintain the family income, suggesting how bored she feels in becoming stuck in her role as ‘housewife’ and yearns for a change. It is mostly through April, in my interpretation that the Wheelers’ hold such contempt through their marital problems and lifestyle, as she clearly is not happy with her current role and feels trapped by it. This is further reflected through the change of mind by Frank. Whilst Frank shows dissatisfaction with his job, he becomes more than content with the idea to stay in America when he is offered a promotion at his job, thus illustrating that his dissatisfaction with life is based upon his lack of success he had previously. By following the footsteps of his father who also worked at Knox and never managed to progress up the career ladder, he embodies the positive aspect of the American Dream, whereby through his success he becomes a lot more happier.

The problems encountered by April, and the reason put forth by Frank why they cannot move to Paris is surfaced around April’s conception of their third child, which she strives to terminate in the chances to continue her dream for Paris. During their argument it becomes suggested that April’s unhappiness has been long running, signifying that they had their second child to prove that the first was not a mistake. April exemplifies the feelings of women in America during this era of not feeling fulfilled being a housewife and looks for excitement in relocating to Paris.

The website I have chosen is from the New Yorker: http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/cinema/2008/12/22/081222crci_cinema_denby. It is quite a lengthy review that sums up the Wheelers’ problems rather well as, “in revolt against the suburbs, against conformity, against playing it safe, [in] believ[ing] that they are marked for some extraordinary destiny. Somehow, they will escape.”

The writer David Denby, additionally illustrates a feminist consciousness within the text as he notes the comparison between Betty Friedman’s book (being published two years after the original novel was released), and the frustrations that the character April encounters. Conversely however, he cites April feeling isolated due to her neuroses and not an issue due to her boredom as a housewife.