FILM CHALLENGE: 89) An Education

89) An Education

Director: Lone Scherfig

Year: 2009

Plot Summary: In the early 1960's, sixteen year old Jenny Mellor lives with her parents in the London suburb of Twickenham. On her father's wishes, everything that Jenny does is in the sole pursuit of being accepted into Oxford, as he wants her to have a better life than he. But Jenny's life changes after she meets David Goldman, a man over twice her age. She quickly gets accustomed to the life to which David and his constant companions, Danny and Helen, have shown her, and Jenny and David's relationship moves into becoming a romantic one.

Described by many as a coming-of-age drama, An Education was the British movie that hit the Oscars last year earning nominations for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actress. However, while I agreed with those reviews the first time I saw it, this revisit enlightened my to the fact that it's so much more than just a coming-of-age story.

Set in the early 1960s, it's a fascinating and often very funny study of the values and lifestyles that many families followed before The Beatles struck. The idea that, in order to be successful, children should be educated and receive degrees from the best schools in the country shines through in the scenes with Jenny's family and teachers. Her father, performed tremendously by Alfred Molina, suggests early on that Jenny shouldn't be a rebel because they don't want those at Oxford and, in a particularly laugh out loud scene, gives a cold response to Jenny's friend who suggests going on a gap year.

This lifestyle choice that she is forced into isn't questioned until the arrival of David. Unlike what she's been brought up to believe, he's successful without any university degree. Instead, as he himself says, he studied at "the University of life." Moreover, he's not repressed in the way Jenny and her classmates seem. He goes to nightclubs, dog races, drinks alcohol, smokes cigarettes and takes frequent trips abroad to Paris.

While many will see her relationship with David as simply a romance, which it certainly is, I find it to be more of an insight into another way of life for Jenny. Like what The Beatles did for an entire generation some years later, David shows Jenny that there's more to life than an education.

Despite these deep early 1960s themes, An Education is still a wonderfully entertaining, touching, warm and poignant little drama. Much of this comes from the outstanding writing of Nick Hornby. The dialogue is brilliant in every scene and, marvellously, every single character no matter how big or small is given a depth that you'd rarely find in any motion picture. Miss Stubbs, for example, appears in maybe 5 scenes of the entire movie yet has one of the most moving story lines in An Education.

Moreover, Carey Mulligan proves that she's one of the most promising upcoming actresses here, channelling a young Audrey Hepburn in her elegant, heartwarming and honest portrayal of Jenny.

While the ending lets it down, An Education is as blissful as a British film has been this decade. Well, with the exception of Happy Go Lucky maybe. With, for my money, everything you'd want in a film, An Education was one of 2009's finest releases.

4/5

By Daniel Sarath with No comments