In 1960s London, women had few educational opportunities. But for Jenny (Carey Mulligan) who was intelligent, gifted and pretty, Oxford was a distinct possibility, if only she could get past Latin. Her father (Alfred Molina) wants Jenny to have a better life than he did, so he watches her diligently, keeping her focused and on track for her final exams. Jenny doesn’t mind though, she wants to go to Oxford. She loves literature and excels in school. She longs to leave her pedestrian suburban life behind and live in Paris where she can listen to French music and smoke cigarettes in outdoor cafes. Jenny is in love with music, art and the bohemian lifestyle. She can’t wait for university and the education it will bring her.
One day after music rehearsal, Jenny meets a mysterious man while waiting at a bus stop. He offers to get her and her cello out of the rain, but she is reluctant. The man goes out his way to make her feel safe and to prove to her that as a music lover, his intentions are honorable. He is just worried about the state of her cello. Soon he has her instrument in his car and after a few charming words, Jenny as well. She arrives home safely, but the seduction has begun. Jenny is in for an education that she never dreamed of.
Based on the Lynn Barber memoir, An Education explores the meaning of feminine success and the value of further education. Peter Sarsgaard plays the beguiling David who not only seduces Jenny, but her parents as well. There is a sense of foreboding that hovers over this entire film as you are waiting for the other shoe to drop. I loved the unpredictability of the story. You knew that it had to go wrong, you just didn’t know when or how. But don’t count Jenny out; this is a true story after all. Just sit back, turn off your protective instincts and watch a beautiful girl come in to her own. Carey Mulligan gives a brilliant performance and she just might be doing a little seducing herself. This young lady is a charmer.
Rating: First Run An engaging story of a young girl’s education
About Me
- Melanie Wilson
- My Reviewer's Philosophy: I believe that every film has its audience. One man’s Citizen Kane is another man’s Texas Chain Saw Massacre. My purpose is to help you spend your entertainment dollars wisely. A bad review never kept me from going to a film I wanted to see, but a good review will sometimes get me to a film I never considered. As a movie lover I want you to go to the movies. When more people go to the movies, the more movies get made. But, I also believe that if you enjoy the films you see, you naturally will be inclined to go more often. So join me in supporting our film industry by going to a movie today. Hopefully I can steer you towards a good one. See you at the movies. Melanie Wilson
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