Once every few years, if the combination of cast, writing, and timing is just right, a film appears that captures the spirit of the era.  Films like these relate with the times and reveal social truths with their insightful understanding of their specific historical contexts.  In the Sixties, the key film that most accurately demonstrated the rebellious sentiments of American youth turned out to be "The Graduate", directed by Mike Nichols.  This controversial film precisely exposed the controversial, permanent changes that America was undergoing at the time of its release in 1967.  The radical mood of "The Graduate" matched perfectly with the revolutionary feelings of the time by satirically ridiculing conventional social and sexual customs.

            The story, adapted from a novel by Charles Webb, follows the uncanny course of events of the life of Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman), a Holden Caulfieldish college grad.  The movie begins when Benjamin returns home to Southern California after graduating to an ostentatious homecoming party.  Benjamin is unable to commit himself to graduate school or any serious professions, but rather lingers around his affluent parents’ swimming pool drinking beers and sunbathing.  Benjamin is then propositioned by Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), the frustrated, alcoholic wife of Benjamin’s father’s business partner.  After nervously rejecting her, Benjamin calls the older woman for a rendezvous at a local hotel.  The couple’s affair, which Benjamin eventually finds to be decadent, is brought to a screeching halt when he is coerced into a blind date with the Robinsons’ daughter, Elaine (Katharine Ross) and finds himself falling in love with her.

            When analyzing the film’s social commentary, it is first necessary to review the fundamental story.  The events that take place in "The Graduate" clearly demonstrate a strong sense of rebellion – rebellion against the upper class, rebellion against the older generation, and rebellion against the standard conventions of the American culture during the Sixties.  The main instance in the plot of "The Graduate" in which rebellion is portrayed is Benjamin’s long-term affair with Mrs. Robinson.  This act is Benjamin’s first real revolt against his parents and the expectations placed upon him; he demolishes the moral principles of the Sixties by marring himself with adultery.  Although Benjamin eventually realizes the relationship is “disgusting,” his indulgence marks the most scandalous and controversial act in the film.

           Another example of such rebellion is Benjamin’s resistance to further his career by seeking employment or applying to graduate school.  In Benjamin’s first dialogue with his father, he explains that he has “to be alone for awhile,” and that he wishes his future could be “different.”  Benjamin rejects the path that has been laid out for him and feels a general repugnance for, and superiority to, the pretentious upper-middle-class lifestyle of his parents.  Benjamin never pursues financial success or fame throughout the movie, but rather seeks physical satisfaction in the form of sex with Mrs. Robinson, “drifting around” in the pool, and drinking beer.

            The final rebellious concept of the film is Benjamin’s love for Elaine.  Benjamin is not only uninterested, but vocally objects to going on a date with Elaine when his parents wish it.  In fact, Benjamin only begins showing interest in Elaine after Mrs. Robinson forbids that he see her daughter.  As the film continues and more obstacles appear in his way, Benjamin becomes more emotionally involved with Elaine until he is obsessed with her.  When he leaves home to pursue Elaine, his motivations seem wild and unrealistic to his parents:

            Mr. Braddock: Don’t you think that idea is a little half-baked?

            Benjamin: Oh no, Dad, it’s completely baked.

Benjamin fearlessly follows his own heart instead of conforming to the pressures exerted upon him by his family and society.

            The themes of rebellion in "The Graduate" are not only shown in events of the story, but also in the methods in which those events are presented to the viewer.  The point of view in which the film is shown, which is the point of view of Benjamin in this case, is very important to revealing themes of the film.  All the events of "The Graduate" are shown through the eyes of Benjamin which allows the viewer to relate with and sympathize with Benjamin’s situation.  Where some would look at Benjamin’s lack of ambition as laziness, the viewer understands that it is rebellion because of hints provided by Benjamin’s point of view.  Where some would look at Benjamin as a sexual predator for having an affair with Mrs. Robinson and then pursuing her daughter, the viewer understands that it is Mrs. Robinson that is the sexual predator and Benjamin never means to hurt anyone with his choices.  Benjamin’s point of view is a fundamental indicator of his motives and the motives of others around him.

            Another method used in "The Graduate" to emphasize themes of rebellion and isolation is the use of clever, meaningful camera angles to portray certain feelings.  For example, Benjamin’s alienation from his culture is symbolized throughout the film by shots through glass.  At the barbeque, Benjamin sees the guests through the distorted vision of his diving mask, when Benjamin meets Mrs. Robinson early in the movie, she is shown through the glass of the fish tank, and Benjamin is shown many times throughout the movie wearing sunglasses.  When Benjamin comes to rescue Elaine at the church, he shouts her name out from behind a glass pane, and in the last scene when Benjamin runs off with Elaine, they are shot through the window of the bus as it drives away.  This consistent filming technique represents Benjamin’s isolation; he is alienated by the upper-class, older generation and needs to fight and rebel for his own purposes.

            The music and sound effects also contribute to the theme of rebellion in "The Graduate".  For example, the opening song of the film, “The Sound of Silence,” by Paul Simon, helps portray the fact that Benjamin has difficulty relating with the world of his parents and feels cut off by invisible barriers.  Similarly, Benjamin’s feeble, nervous voice helps build his character in the film as a troubled, trampled on young man.  This is vital for generating sympathy for Benjamin from the viewer.

           "The Graduate" is one of the few films in history that accurately captures the sentiments of its time period.  In the film, Benjamin Braddock, representing the American youth aged 18-25, rebels against an oppressive older generation to find his own values and own life.  The anticonformatism of the Sixties is clearly apparent in "The Graduate", and the American youth was captivated by the movie’s controversial values at the time of its release.  "The Graduate" represents the rebellious sentiments of the Sixties in a remarkably accurate way.  Although the impact made by the film is questionable, it certainly can be used as a beacon for a time of revolution in American history.

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