Reviewed by Anne Wollenberg
Stars Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Dominic Cooper, Rosamund Pike,
Alfred Molina, Cara Seymour, Emma Thompson, Olivia Williams, Matthew Beard | Written by Nick Hornby
UK certification 12 | UK RRP £19.99 | DVD Region 2 | Runtime 96 minutes | Directed by Lone Scherfig
Journalist Lynn Barber was all set to attend Oxford University, until an older man swept her off her feet and derailed her life plans. Her parents didn’t dissuade her from abandoning her ambitions in favour of getting married – after all, why did she need a degree if she had a husband? Except, as it turned out, she had fallen for a conman and chucked in her dreams for nothing.
Barber wrote about her experiences for Granta magazine, and Nick Hornby adapted that story into a screenplay. An Education is the result, though it’s more inspired by – rather than based on – Barber’s memoir. A fictionalisation of sorts, although the basic details remain the same.
Carey Mulligan is Twickenham schoolgirl Jenny, whose life revolves around Latin translations, cello practice and an obsession with all things French. She’s all set to apply to Oxford, until a suave older man, David (Peter Sarsgaard), waltzes into her life and sweeps her off her feet. Jenny is infatuated with David, of course. Like all 16-year-old girls, she’s not as worldly as she thinks she is, but is desperate for more freedom and excitement.
David is older and better-looking than schoolboy Graham (Matthew Beard), Jenny’s previous suitor (all of Beard’s outfits were a size too small, to ensure he looked gawky and awkward at all times). Graham’s idea of a gift is buying Jenny a Latin dictionary, while David takes her to posh concerts and whisks her away to Paris. He has money and a car, and he introduces her to a glamorous world full of art auctions and smoky jazz bars. Spending time with his oh-so-cool friends Danny (Dominic Cooper) and Helen (Rosamund Pike), playing at being an adult, is a far more exciting prospect than sitting in a classroom conjugating Latin verbs.
But this is a cautionary tale. Just as Little Red Riding Hood needed to watch out for the wolf, innocent schoolgirls have much to fear from smooth-talking older men who encourage them to skip school and lie to their parents, while also charming even the crotchetiest of dads (in this case, Alfred Molina). Even the smartest of girls can lose her head over a man, much to the chagrin of Jenny’s teachers, including a brief but brilliant turn from Emma Thompson as her headmistress. Swept up in the smoke and mirrors of the false promise of a life with David, Jenny declares that school is pointless. And her parents, wowed by David’s effortless charm and smarm, don’t bother trying to change her mind.
An Education is set in 1961, just before the 60s started swinging. It’s a showcase for Mulligan’s talent, sparking a few whisperings about possible Oscars. She was in her early 20s when she made the film, yet strikes the perfect note as the frustrated schoolgirl who desperately wants the glamour and excitement of a grown-up life, but doesn’t realise the cost involved. There’s more than a hint of Hepburn to her, as has been widely – and rightly – pointed out. Sarsgaard, too, is excellent as David, the man who leads Jenny astray, striking the right balance between being charming and, ultimately, more than a bit of a cad. Part entertaining drama, part cautionary coming-of-age tale, this perky period piece is highly recommended.
EXTRAS *** An audio commentary with director Sherfig and stars Sarsgaard and Mulligan; 11 deleted scenes (16 minutes); and a behind-the-scenes featurette (8 mins).