An Education (2009)

Directed by: Lone Scherfig | 120 minutes | drama | Actors: Carey Mulligan, Olivia Williams, Alfred Molina, Cara Seymour, William Melling, Connor Catchpole, Matthew Beard, Peter Sarsgaard, Amanda Fairbank-Hynes, Ellie Kendrick, Dominic Cooper, Rosamund Pike, Nick Sampson, Kate Duchêne, Bel Parker, Emma Thompson, Luis Soto, Olenka Wrzesniewski, Bryony Wadsworth, Ashley Taylor-Rhys, Sally Hawkins, James Norton, Ben Castle, Beth Rowley, Mark Edwards, Tom Rees-Roberts, Arne Somogyi, Paul Wilkinson, Phil Wilkinson

Paris, the city of romance and fine arts. Mondain, rich in culture; ideal for anyone who loves the good life. The city has always had an undeniable attraction for young people. Take Lynn Barber, now a celebrated journalist, but in the early 1960s a dreamy, intelligent girl of sixteen who was eager to see, taste, smell and feel something of the world before she took the step to study at Oxford University. . In 1961 she met a man almost twenty years older who introduced her to the temptations of life. She was in a relationship with him for two years. And although he turned out not to be who she thought he was, she has never regretted this period in her life. He taught her important life lessons that she later benefited from. The feature film ‘An Education’ (2009) by Lone Scherfig is based on Lynn Barber’s memoir. This high-quality British drama excels in excellent acting and a strong script. The biggest asset, however, is lead actress Carey Mulligan, who can easily be called the discovery of the year.

We write Twickenham, a suburb of London, in 1961. The wild sixties are still a long way off. The middle-class environment in which Jenny (Carey Mulligan) grows up is far from liberal. Her parents Jack (Alfred Molina) and Marjorie (Cara Seymour) are hardworking people who only want the best for their only daughter. They therefore send her to a girls’ school with an excellent reputation. Jenny has what it takes to go far: she gets good grades at school, plays the cello and has a broad cultural interest. This is a girl with possibilities. Jenny dreams of going to Paris, dining in luxury restaurants, going to classical concerts and watching French movies. Then suddenly someone shows up in her life who can fulfill her dreams. During a rainy afternoon, David (Peter Sarsgaard) offers Jenny a ride home in his striking sports car. He’s obviously a lot older than her, but so charming she can’t refuse. After that first meeting, he often ‘coincidentally’ shows up in her environment and the two become friends. David takes her to concerts and introduces her to his friends, the mysterious Danny (Dominic Cooper) and the dumb blonde Helen (Rosamund Pike).

Of course David turns out not to be such an ideal son-in-law. For example, he gets his money in a very dubious way and withholds crucial information from his very young girlfriend. But with his charm, he captivates everyone, including Jenny’s dour father. As a viewer, you know he’s mainly out to get the girl to bed, but even with that knowledge in mind, David remains a fit guy. This, of course, has everything to do with Sarsgaard’s acting, who gives a man who could easily have been portrayed as a one-dimensional bastard a conscience and a soul. He really cares about Jenny and it suits him. The acting is excellent across the board. Alfred Molina, as always, is fascinated by the role of the father who wants the best for his daughter and who on the surface seems quite strict, but is particularly easily taken over by charmer David. Beautiful supporting roles include Emma Thompson as Jenny’s school principal, Olivia Williams as her teacher and Matthew Beard as the seventeen-year-old boy who has a crush on the beautiful Jenny but is completely ignored by him (especially once David is in the picture).

‘An Education’, however, is mainly Carey Mulligan’s film, who has an impressive appearance and who comes across as completely believable as a sixteen-year-old (even though the actress herself is six years older). Mulligan sparkles and radiates when she is allowed to take a look at the world for which she is actually still a little too young. She is like a flower bud that slowly blossoms and eventually – after learning the necessary life lessons – blossoms into a beautiful rose. The film also relies on the dedicated direction of Lone Scherfig, who gives her characters room to blossom, and the excellent script by Nick Hornby, who has carefully handled the coming-of-age theme. The production looks neat; the atmosphere of the early sixties is nicely detailed and the music also contributes to the total experience. The main flaw with this film is that it’s on the short side, which makes it all too easy to wrap up towards the end.

‘An Education’ earned three Oscar nominations (Best Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Picture) and has also won awards at several film festivals. All that appreciation is certainly justified, because this drama about growing up is beautifully made. Although the film hardly has peaks or troughs and there are no really dramatic events, you still remain captivated. ‘An Education’ is an ode to intellectual curiosity and personal adventure, recognizable in the portrait of a sixteen-year-old girl who falls for a ‘wrong’ older man. The story may hardly be memorable in itself, but thanks to its central character, ‘An Education’ becomes. Carey Mulligan, who bears remarkable resemblance to none other than Audrey Hepburn in the scenes in Paris, is endearing, charming and talented, and her presence in almost every scene elevates the film to a higher level. We will definitely hear more from her in the coming years!