The Graduate is an entertaining, ironic film concerning a young man being seduced by an older woman, and how he matures from the experience.

Rating: Null/10 (12 December 2010)

The Graduate is an entertaining, ironic film concerning a young man being seduced by an older woman, and how he matures from the experience. Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) recently graduated from college and moved back into his parent's house. Although his parents expect remarkable things from him, Ben is confused and worries about his future. His family constantly pressures him to go to graduate school, find a job, get married, and turn out to be just like them and their friends. Meanwhile, Ben would prefer to float on a raft in a pool than go along with advice from adults regarding his future. At a party celebrating Ben's graduation and homecoming, Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) who is the wife of his father's business partner asks him to give her a ride home. This event ultimately leads to him being seduced into having an affair with her. Things start spiraling out of control when Ben falls for Mrs. Robinson's daughter Elaine (Katharine Ross) and the affair ends. Out of jealousy, Mrs. Robinson threatens to tell her daughter about their affair so Ben impulsively makes the decision to tell her first. Elaine is disgusted and returns to college refusing to talk to Ben. Determined not to lose her, he goes after her and then interrupts her wedding. After her family tries to keep them apart, Elaine runs away with Ben to an unknown future.
The main theme in The Graduate is that of a character who is confused about their life and future, while being pressured by an older generation. Ben feels like he is "drowning" because he is confused about his future and is constantly being pressured by his parents. The director, Mike Nichols, portrays this feeling by showing him in his bedroom looking intently at his fish tank, and by showing Ben under water in his parent's pool many times. By going under water in the pool, Ben is able to escape the annoying advice of everyone around him. In one particular scene, Ben jumps into the pool and sinks to the bottom; while he's under water the camera starts to pull away, which makes him practically fade away. Another way that Nichols showed Ben's frustration and feelings of being lost and going nowhere is when he runs to the church where Elaine is getting married because his car runs out of gas. The way this scene was shot makes it look like Ben was running in place; as if, he is getting nowhere. This type of theme is consistent with other films of Nichols. For instance, in Working Girl, the leading actress saves herself from "drowning" and eventually becomes the boss instead of the secretary.
Ben is clearly an example of frustrated, lack of direction caught up in the pressure of the expectations of his parents and society. This film speaks to the younger generation; informing them of the dangers of not turning into the person they want to be, but instead, turning into what others want them to be. Even today, The Graduate is very appropriate and its theme is applicable. The story easily attracts today's viewers since at one time or another we all have questioned the way our lives were heading.