Movie review: An Education

by Liz Tramer of Skytram Express Blog

Young girls often dream of their exciting futures … college, romance, travel. It all seems so idyllic and perfect in their mind’s eye. In 1960s London suburbia, “good girls” aspired to attend colleges and marry well. For 16-year-old Jenny (Carey Mulligan), her dream of attending Oxford University is within her grasp. But a chance encounter with David (Peter Sarsgaard, Rendition), a charming, handsome stranger, adds a new element to her world in screenwriter Nick Hornby’s (About A Boy) An Education.

An Education manages to capture the perspectives of different generations. Jenny wants to excel at school and see the world. Her parents push her to do well and have the necessary activities to receive admission. Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2) gives an exceptional nuanced performance as an overprotective father who has sheltered his only child.

Once David enters the picture, he exposes Jenny to a wealthy cultured world filled with artists, expensive trips, and charming friends. With lush backgrounds and beautiful costumes, director Lone Scherfig does an exceptional job of painting Jenny’s new life as picturesque.

However, as the romance builds and unfolds, David’s seduction expands into Jenny’s family and her world. As cracks in perfection appear, Mulligan shows her acting depth, transforming from a doe-eyed innocent into a willing participant in a game that may not have any winners.

Scherfig’s film is packed with twists, turns, and shocking revelations. Jenny’s lessons in love and romance prove that people, regardless of age, always have something new to learn.

Grade: A-