Saagar Kote
‘The Intern’ is a 2015 comedy-drama that follows Ben Whitaker, an aged widower who feels the loneliness of life after his wife’s death. To take a second shot at living his life and to keep himself engaged, he joins a revolutionary new online clothing company called About The Fit as a senior intern. Jules Ostin, the ambitious and young CEO of the company, approves the senior intern program as a strategy to help young employees be inspired and taught life skills by older and more experienced retirees who are looking for opportunities.
As time passes, Ben and Jules, two radically opposite individuals, forge an unlikely and inspiring friendship that changes their lives and beliefs. The Nancy Meyers directorial delves into the intricacies of unlikely friendships, familial bonds, women empowerment in workspaces, generational differences in approach to work and life, and a clash between the old and the new. Featuring heartfelt moments, emotional performances, and a grounded storyline, the film offers viewers a compelling experience.
The Intern Takes Inspiration From Real Ideas
Though ‘The Intern’ is a fictional drama, it definitely draws from real-life scenarios and ideas that affect common people. Nancy Meyers, who also served as the writer for the film, thought about the premise of the film while she was making her feature film ‘It’s Complicated.’ She was interested in finding out how things would play out if an older man worked as an intern for a young woman. In an interview for Bustle, Meyers opined that the story is rooted in reality and the unique relationship between Jules and Ben was an idea that she conceived due to her desire to have someone like Ben in her own life. She confessed that she was trying to fulfill this wish by making the movie. While writing the movie, she thought there should be someone in a person’s life when things seem very stressful.
In the storyline, reflecting the director’s own ideas, we see that Ben becomes a part of Jules’s life when she needs it the most. Without her realizing, Jules is being dragged into the toxic side of the corporate world that wants to suck out her optimism and drive. However, Ben is there to be a calming influence, helping Jules to understand that she has what it takes to run her own company and handle her family life as well. Surrounded by young people like herself, Jules lacked the wisdom of someone more experienced in business and life. This offers a cathartic experience for viewers, just as Meyers presumably intended. This drives the narrative very close to the real desires of people, and the need for deep friendships that most people feel.
Understanding Women’s Role in The Corporate World
One of the major ideas the storyline deals with is the role of women in the corporate world. It’s a commentary on how ambitious women in the corporate world are expected to sacrifice their own goals or balance family and work in unreasonable ways. Due to her talent and knowledge of the market, Jules is able to take About The Fit to greater heights every day, but the board wants her to step down as CEO due to her supposed inexperience and overburdened days. It’s a common occurrence that we see in the real corporate world where women are asked questions that men aren’t, and are held to higher standards due to prevalent male-constructed norms. In a statement for The Hollywood Reporter, Anne Hathaway said that she met with Sophia Amoruso from a company called Nasty Gal to understand women in the corporate world better.
Hathaway also said she had long conversations with Lauren Santo Domingo of an online fashion company called Moda Operandi about being a mother, wife, and an integral part of the corporate world at the same time, and balancing these different roles. The actress also spoke to Taylor Tomasi Hill about the experiences of starting her own company and traversing a different path. These conversations with women from the world of fashion and business helped the actress add authenticity to her performance.
Nancy Meyers also consulted growing companies like One Kings Lane and Gilt Groupe to have a better understanding of the intricacies of the online business world, which allowed her to add a sense of realism to the storyline. Both One Kings Lane and Gilt Groupe were founded by young women. Jules is often seen trying to better her business and website, crunching data, and suggestions from Ben also help About The Fit create better strategies on the website. This indicates that the filmmaking process involved ground research and conversations in which the director was involved.
The Intern Explores the Interaction Between Generations
A point that is repeated throughout the narrative is the clash between the work cultures, ethics, and feelings of different generations, in this case, the differences between Ben, who is seventy years old, and his fellow employees, who seem to be in their twenties. In an interview for Forbes, Diana Flynn, one of the founders of a company called ReBoot Accel, opined that she often cites Ben Whitaker’s energy and engagement returning to work in his seventies. She opined that the movie highlights the wisdom and experience that many senior people bring to work. She provides opportunities to senior people, especially women, in her own company, which is very close to the premise of the film. This intertwining of the ideas between the old and the new generations drives the film closer to the real world.
Diana is helping a program for women interested in resuming their careers. She also stated that certain companies see older workers as a liability, but research proves that they provide emotional maturity and complex problem-solving abilities. Much like Ben Whitaker, they inspire others while also showing a strong work ethic, loyalty, and meaningful contributions. The film is an important commentary on reality because a promising workforce emerges from intergenerational collaboration and sharing of ideas, especially with five generations presently working side-by-side. The key lies in merging the digital acumen and quick thinking of younger generations with the wisdom and experience of older ones.
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