Who's Reviews: An Education

An Education was a delightful film, thanks largely to Carey Mulligan. Plus, watching it in Dendy Quays meant Count Lucifer and I enjoyed a great view of the Opera House before and after the film and a fun trip to and from Circular Quay where we were accosted by, not one, but two strange men. That was an entirely appropriate entree to the central concept of this film, I guess.

Set in 1961, on the cusp of social change to attitudes about sex, this is a morally troubling film. On one level, the surface politeness of David (Peter Sarsgaard), a charming 30-plus man who makes a living doing ethically dubious things, made me almost forgive is pursuit of Jenny (Carey Mulligan), a 16/17 year old precocious schoolgirl who dreams of jazz music, Paris and the high life. But on the other hand, CL and I couldn't help but think "eugh" when you think about the basis of the story: older man seduces younger girl with charm and trips to Paris. This has 'pedophile' written all over it.

At the beginning of the film, we are immediately aware that Jenny is different to her friends. While they are insufferably obnoxious and inappropriate, she peppers her sentences with French and is altogether more self-assured and intelligent. But this proves dangerous because she is bored. Bored with studying Latin, bored with her pushy parents and bored with Graham (Matthew Beard), an adorable but clumsy schoolboy who is pursuing her. Then in comes David, a suave and charming gentleman, cough, cough, with glamorous friends Danny (Dominic Cooper from Mamma Mia) and Helen (Rosamund Pike, who is hilarious), a lifestyle of leisure and a strange attraction to her. Although there is something fishy about David and his friends, Jenny turns a blind eye to some confronting facts about them (essentially, some of their income comes from thieving).

The rest of the movie plays out with complications galore. Jenny believes her "life education" should come before her school education. She forfeits her chances of getting into Oxford when she is expelled for being with David. To the shock of her peers and encouraged by her parents (who fail to protect Jenny from David's steely grasp), she goes on not one, but two trips with David. Once to Oxford and once to Paris. Lets just say this was very cringe-worthy not because of sexual content, but because the most morally confronting issues were raised in these scenes.

Do we accept their relationship because it's consensual or is it just wrong for an older man to have a relationship with someone who is essentially a child in many respects?

Jane ignores the advice of her teacher and mentor, Miss Stubs (Olivia Williams, or Jane Fairfax in the Kate Beckinsale version of Emma). But who can blame her? Going to jazz clubs and conversations about pre-Raphaelite paintings are just so much more interesting than King Lear.

But, without giving the ending away, Jenny must eventually pay for her actions, ignorance and impatience. Cue rude awakenings, heart-breaking confrontations and attempts to rectify what was wronged.

Carey Mulligan is the 'bright star' of this film (haha CL). Even though she is 24, she manages very convincingly as a 17 year old girl. She is sufficiently wide-eyed and simultaneously stubborn to be believable as a strong-willed teenage girl on the cusp of womanhood. Emma Thompson has a nice cameo as the delightfully frumpy and anti-semitic headmistress who manages to slap some sense into Jenny in the end.

What wasn't very convincing was David and Jenny's relationship. Sure he was a smooth operator, but there was no believable chemistry. Maybe because he was a total cad, I dunno.

I spent the whole of today thinking about the end of the film. I'm not quite sure how to interpret it. Though there is technically a 'happy ending', one wonders whether or not Jenny truly values her education (with David, that is) or if she wishes to forget that chapter of her life altogether. I guess the overarching moral I gathered is that you must be educated in order to receive an education.

Rotten Tomatoes has 94% positive feedback on this film so I guess most people love it. I'd give it an 8/10. A morally stirring story where the strangest part was the fact that it was based on the life of a real woman... gross...

~ Hurley Who?