An Education - Carey Mulligan's Breakout Movie

A beautifully written romantic coming of age tale set in Britain in the 1960's. Jennie's boring school girl existence is turned on its head by a charming older man. You won't see what's coming in this well crafted film and you will remember your own first love and how it changed your life and heart.

The film is based on a memoir by Lynn Barber, and adapted for the screen by Nick Hornby who is also responsible for High Fidelity and About a Boy. Lone Scherfig (Just Like Home) is masterful with his direction of this poignant romance. He shows his talent in the under tones of the movie and does not let it wander into voyeurism.

The story is about Jennie, Carey Mulligan, (The Greatest) who is sixteen, quite bright and on a path to Oxford. She is bored with school and the boys she meets and the whole school experience. She wonders about her father Jack, Alfred Molina, (Silk) and mother Majorie, Cara Seymour, (The Auteur) both locked in a loveless marriage. Her father's main goal in life is to get her into Oxford, which will pave her way into the world.

One rainy day, on the way home from her cello recital, she is offered a ride by David, Peter Sarsgaard, (Rendition) which she declines at first. David is very handsome, has a sports car and exudes charm she cannot resist. The ride ends with just mild flirtation but she is surprised when she receives flowers from David the next day. David now occupies her fantasies for some time.

Jennie runs into David a bit later and is invited to a Ravel concert and a spot of supper afterwards. David tells her he will drop round and if her parents object they can use the tickets and go as a family. David is brilliant with her parents and convinces them to let her go with him. You can just tell David is a master salesman and has a charm that is other worldly. Jennie is impressed with the ease with which handle the situation. At the concert she meets David' friends Danny, Dominic Cooper, (The Duchess) and Helen, Rosamund Pike, (Pride & Prejudice) who are an exceedingly stylish and fun loving couple. Jennie is enraptured by the whole evening especially the glamorous night club they go to for a bit of supper. This is a world she has only dreamed about. The evening ends with Jennie saying it's the best night of her life.

David then takes her to an auction at Christies, to see if they can acquire a famous painting. Helen and Danny are there and they let Jennie bid on the painting, which she wins. She is blown away by the experience. They go back to Danny and Helen's flat for cocktails. During the afternoon they decide to go to Oxford for the weekend and invite Jennie. Jennie bets David ,a half a crown, that he can't convince her father to let her go and that he'll be arrested if he tries. You may well guess, David is a master at weaving a tale, an says he's going to Oxford to meet his old English Professor Clive Lewis and wants Jennie to meet him. Clive Lewis has written a rather famous novel and her father believes that meeting Professor Lewis will pave Jennie's way into Oxford. David mentions that his Aunt Helen will be along as chaperone. It's a done deal

While Jennie and Helen are packing, Helen asks Jennie if she has a nice nightie for the occasion. She says she doesn't and that she hasn't slept with David and Helen congratulates her. Jennie's naive notions about the relationship now sends her mind churning. She does want to sleep with David, just not yet. David doesn't really know Clive Lewis and forges a greeting and autograph on his novel. They spend a nice day touring Oxford. That evening David asks Jennie to sleep with him. Jennie tells him she would like to but, wants to wait till her seventeenth birthday . David then asks for a peek at her beautiful body and she is flattered and bares all.

On the way home, Jennie gets another rude awakening when David and Danny steal a painting from an old country house. She wants to go home but David convinces her that this how the group affords their lavish life style and Jennie relents. She is mesmerized by David and feels that her life had just started after she met him. She enjoys all the lavish gifts and the life style and is drawn into the web of deception.

David shows up at Jennie's seventeenth birthday party bearing gifts. He announces that he is taking the whole family to Paris for her birthday.
David smoothly manipulates the situation and yes Jennie gets to go to Paris with him. A trip to Paris has always been one of Jennie's dreams. She marvels at how deftly David handled the situation.

The trip to Paris is exciting and they spend the day visiting all the sights. That evening is when the romance begins. Jennie tells David she is a virgin and there is only one first time and she wants to make it memorable, so they order champagne. She is unabashed. In the morning, Jennie muses about why there is so many love songs and romance novels, about something that lasts no time at all.

The romance continues when they get home and they are living the high life with their ill gotten gains. David has become possessed with Jennie and asks her to marry him and she doesn't answer him. The next few days Jennie is torn about making the decision. She confides in her parents and her father says she doesn't need Oxford because she'll be all set with David. Jennie decides to marry David and quit school.

David asks Jack and Majorie out to dinner to celebrate the coming wedding. During the trip Jennie discovers a horrifying secret about David. The marriage is off. In the subsequent days more shocks come her way as she learns the truth about David.

You will be surprised with the end of this tale. It is most heart warming and memorable. Jennie struggles to get into Oxford and eventually succeeds. The final scenes are unexpected and will cause you to smile.

Lone Scherfig deserves a great deal of praise for his delicate handling of the script and not letting it to devolve into something seamy. Carey Mulligan gives a great performance with nuance and naivety just below the surface. She will be in great demand after the release of film. Peter Sarsgaard is impressive in his subdued performance as David. I was surprised to still like David with all his charm even though he was trying to seduce a young girl, he was never creepy. Until the unexpected secrets were revealed. Alfred Molina as always gives a tremendous performance. This film will win lots of awards this season. Hopefully, Carey Mulligan's performance will get a nod.

This film is not normally one that I would put high on my list to see, mostly because of the subject matter, seduction. I was engrossed the whole film. Jennie's growing awareness of the world and her place in it kept me wanting more. Carey and Peter's finely wrought performances cause the film to shine and surpass the subject matter. An Education is a must see movie.


Dirk Bristol is a freelance writer with varied interests. One interest is a passion with movies. You can check out his latest new website Home Fitness Exercise Equipment and see the best selection of True Fitness Equipment available.