The Graduate (1967) : Youth in the 1960s

The Graduate (1967) : Youth in the 1960s

‘The Graduate’ directed by Mike Nichols was released in 1967 and gained a lot of popularity for symbolising how youth of this time felt. The film was based on a book by the same name written by Charles Webb; Nichols chose to direct this film because of his love for the book.[1] Dustin Hoffman starred as the main character who after graduating from university felt lost in life. The story follows Benjamin Braddock coming back from university to live with his parents before starting an adulterous affair with his parents’ friend Mrs. Robinson, who asks him not to date her daughter. Benjamin eventually falls in love with her daughter called Elaine and they both run off together away from their families.

Throughout the film Benjamin feels aimless and isolated. This is illustrated by having him surrounded by his parents and their friends, representing him as youth in the 1960s being completely different to the generation before him. This is shown particularly in the scene where Braddock wears a scuba suit and the camera assumes his perspective showing how isolated he is in a mask whilst his parents watch him.  He then proceeds to jump into the pool and when he tries to come up his parents push him back down to the bottom where he stays. This visual in the film illustrates how lost Braddock feels after graduating and symbolises the generational gap between him and his parents. His parents find the suit amusing and clearly have nothing else on their minds yet as the camera pans out the audience can see how isolated he feels. Youth of this period were more political than their parents. With events such as the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement happening around them, this generation wanted change to happen and felt strongly about not letting life go back to the way it had been.

One of the most famous scenes from this classic film is the ending. Elaine was going to marry another man purely for convenience instead of love, perhaps something her parents’ generation would have done. But instead both Elaine and Benjamin get on a bus after she has jilted her fiancé and they have admitted their love for each other. At first they are laughing and are seen smiling but as time goes on their faces become sullen and the audience is left with this as their final view of them.

The audience cannot be certain as to why the film ends on such a sad note as it could have been because they regretted being with each other or because of the trouble they have caused their families. However, critics have stated that “the conclusion to The Graduate is moving precisely because of the ambiguity within Benjamin. . . The brief dolorous coda on the bus is what comes after the happy ever after.”[2] Meaning the movie ends in both a happy and sad way by showing the typical romantic ending but without giving the audience satisfaction by having the actors display sadness. This demonstrates the ‘lost’ feeling Braddock has felt throughout the film as he has been a largely apathetic character. Although he made a decision to run away with Elaine, he still feels unsure about the future he’ll have. The Graduate symbolises the youth of the 1960s by displaying the isolation and loneliness Benjamin feels in his life as well as displaying the differing attitudes between different generations.

---

[1] Lynch, Dennis, 'How 'The Graduate' Ending Became One Of The Best Scenes In Cinema, Mike Nichols Remembered', International Business Times, 20/11/14, http://www.ibtimes.com/how-graduate-ending-became-one-best-scenes-cinema-mike-nichols-remembered-1727045, 22/11/17

[2] Whitehead, J.W., Mike Nichols and the Cinema of Transformation, (McFarland, 2014)

P. 50