An Education

Film Review: An Education
Director: Lone Scherfig
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Dominic Cooper, Rosamund Pike, Olivia Williams, Emma Thompson,…
Release Date: 2009

 

About
The year is 1961, the bright, attractive 16-year student Jenny (Carey Mulligan), who lives in the quiet suburban location, just think of study in order to go to Oxford. But it is also aware that it is in the era of cultural ferment of the ’60s, so her world reeling when one day he meets a Brit (Peter Sarsgaard), a seductive type of 35 years old. Brit begin courting with fine dining, clubs and travel with their funny friends Danny (Dominic Cooper) and Helen (Rosamund Pike), putting Jenny in a quandary over whether the future will continue with Brit and her busy life, or go to college.
My opinion
I recently saw this movie and I have to say I was surprised. An Education reflects that age known as the age of innocence, that we put candy in my mouth when we are teenagers and that causes us to begin to fantasize and dream about a life that much to our regret, is far from becoming reality.

Carey Mulligan (deservedly nominated for an Oscar, Bafta-winning), I knew before because of their small part in the version of ”Pride and Prejudice” in 2005 and fleeting roles in”Brothers” and ”Enemies Public’. No wonder it has received such good reviews for ”An Education” because it shows that has the makings of an actress, is superb and natural in this movie. Without great fanfare, falls short of a superb Peter Sarsgaard, and always successful, faced here with a seemingly charming man who has a very important secret that makes change many things in the life of Jenny.
I must also emphasize the excellent work of Alfred Molina, as the father and Emma Thompson, an iron maiden of the school, in a brief appearance. The debut of Danish Lone Scherfig in British cinema could not be better. Through a simple story but well told, the director of “Italian for Beginners”, get 100 minutes to keep next to Jenny, in a short period of his life covering possibly the most important months of his life.
Devoid of affection from their parents and without the heat of an educational system intransigent, Jenny is given a chance greedy played by Peter Sarsgaard who represents everything she dreams: a bohemian world where the songs sound like Juliette Greco, smoked Russian cigarettes and go to expensive restaurants, in short, to Paris to reach.

The merit of Scherfig apart from the successful election of Carey Mulligan, and have known to surround a solid supporting cast, lies in a film that formally close to perfection, with an exquisite setting of the 60′s British , thanks to a dynamic and efficient assembly, showing the just at the right time.

I think it really is a film that deserves to be seen, the message it conveys. So if you have chance to see it, do not hesitate. It is fully recommended.

Rating:   8/10

Quote:
Jenny: “For the life I want, I need no shortcuts”.