An Education
Whenever I receive an invitation to view a screening of a film I have never heard of I get a familiar thrill of being thrust into the unknown. I do no research and go in with no expectations. Typically, that means I at least won’t walk away disappointed. A few times, however, as is the case with my recent encounter with “An Education,” I discover a little gem of a film that I can’t get out of my head.
Lone Scherfig (“Italian for Beginners”) brings to life a story we’ve all heard before: a young girl falls for a charming older gentlemen and, in the process, goes through a coming-of-age trial. She does this in way that leaves no sentiments for the characters involved and has no problems showing all of their flaws, no matter how minuscule. Guided by a sharp screenplay scribed by Nick Hornby (“About a Boy,” “High Fidelity”), the story is as smart and charming as it is simple.
From the moment the film begins we are introduced to Carey Mulligan’s 16-year old “Jenny” character, who wears the weight of the film on her tiny shoulders and holds it like a seasoned pro. She is the perfect student with best the grades and the prettiest face. She is the perfect daughter. She is everything her parents and teachers could have asked for. For all of her perfection, though, she is still a child and shows this in the rash decisions she makes throughout the film. Sometimes you just want to scream at her naivete, but then Mulligan will just flash her girlish smile and warm your heart. This young reminiscence of Audrey Hepburn will catapult her stunning career with this film.
At home, Jenny is presided over by her parents Jack and Marjorie, played by Alfred Molina and Cara Seymour. They have decided that Jenny is bound for Oxford, where she is to read English, and they’ll do anything at their disposal to get her there. Her English teacher, Miss Stubbs (Olivia Williams) would also have her heart broken if Jenny strayed from her path. This is the perfect setup for the film. Like the whole story, it’s nothing new, but the setting of 1961 Britain and the spot on performances are spellbinding.
Just as we get to know Jenny and her world, David (Peter Sarsgaard) comes onto the screen. He is an affable and mysterious older man who takes an instant liking to Jenny. There’s instant chemistry on the screen and as youthful flirting slowly becomes something more, there’s no doubt that these two people could very well have come together naturally in the real world.
David has an air of mystery about him and at many points in the film the mood might even be described as dark or malignant. This polite man is obviously wearing some kind of mask, and it’s enjoyable to watch that mask get pulled off, again slowly, to reveal his true face.
We’re not to worry too much about Jenny, though. There are plenty of reminders about just how sharp she is, but also just how much of a child she can be. We end up wanting to see Jenny make a mistake so that she can learn from it and be the woman she should be. It might be a strange way to root for the lead in a film, but it’s the way of a concerned parent or older sibling and it’s a way that feels right.
Lessons are learned all around in the film. Jenny isn’t the only one who has to constantly re-evaluate her world (to the dismay of her teachers, in particular). Her parents, the headmistress at her school, David all face truths about themselves and others that they never did before. It should be stressed, though, that sentimentality doesn’t really come across, even if the lesson learned is a harsh one. It simply feels good to see everyone coming to a level-headed understanding. A rare feat in any film.
Having debuted in Sundance this year, “An Education” has already built a great fan base. It won the Audience Award as well as the award for Best Cinematography. When it hits theaters on Friday, it’s sure to get a sneak attack among filmgoers. With romance, intrigue, stylish socialite parties, and a crisp story, “An Education” is sure to delight most people who see it.
