An Education

An Education (2009)

Directed by Lone Scherfig

An Education (Directed by Lone Scherfig) is an autobiography by British

journalist Lynn Barber involving a schoolgirl and a much older Jewish con man.

Likewise the film focuses on 16-year-old Jenny (played by Carey Mulligan

nominated for best supporting actress in 2009), an inspiring literature

student alongside her boyfriend David (Peter Sarsgaard), a pompous

ex Harvard student clearly older but not referenced how old he really is.

Part of the enjoyment of An Education is the 60s background, you can’t help but

fall in love with Mulligan’s costuming that resembles Audrey Hepburn’s grace,

but more so, An Education depicts the brink of the counter culture through David

and his right hand man Graham (Matthew Beard) alongside his witty partner

Helen (Rosamund Pike), an independent but trapped character. There’s no

shortage of 60s detailing or characters development.

David’s beatnik lifestyle through Jenny perspective and perhaps, the viewer is

appertising than say Jenny’s parents who board a traditional drab home,

however what is nuanced here, is regardless of being conservative or lefty

both positions are flawed. For example, Jenny’s father (Alfred Molina) projects

his main priority is getting Jenny to Harvard and maintaining a level of

excellence, but when he meets David he is more than happy for David to look

after Jenny and for Jenny, to become a housewife. At the same time, David brings

culture and class, staging himself as the perfect gentleman but as the narrative

progresses his secrets and mixed agendas are clear. Depending on which side

you connect to, An Education doesn’t make it a fact that one position is better but

weakness and selfishness evident within the human condition. The narrative

makes it clear that Jenny’s is on her own and must figure it out.

Don’t expect An Education too push any buttons, this isn’t to say, 

this is a major problem and the film can’t be enjoyed, it’s to say that the slight 

political, social commentaries or hearing the French dialect without subtitles 

is a bit pompous delivered in nice and non confronting way. 

You get the feeling An Education was marketed too much on targeting its crowd 

and ticking the right boxes. This makes sense, as the film was critically acclaimed 

and fell in Oscar nominees.Part of me also found Jenny and David’s affair 

cringe worthy.  Whether intended or not, I couldn’t help, for want of a better word

 find it gross. For example, the age factor between David and Jenny even without 

knowing how old he is, David talked in creepy baby language. Equally, David’s 

gentleman persona and hidden agenda’s came across pretty obvious.

It was like being surprised that one-day clean- cut Hugh Grant will be caught 

with a prostitute, all too obvious. Maybe, that’s the point, you’re not meant to 

identify him as a clean-cut person, but watch Jenny learn from her mistakes. 

However, what works well, is identifying with Jenny. Mulligan is a beautiful 

mix of naivety and maturity you see her journey change and progress 

leaving the rest, to your imagination.