An Education (2008)

From NetFlix:

Jenny’s (Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan) Oxford-bound teen life is undistinguished in 1961 London until she’s given a different kind of education after being immersed in the beguiling but hazardous world of cultured and much-older David (Peter Sarsgaard). Even Jenny’s father, Jack (Alfred Molina), is intrigued by him, but her school’s unimpressed headmistress (Emma Thompson) works to keep Jenny’s entire future from crumbling under David’s influence.

Carey Mulligan will just put a smile on your face. And Peter Sarsgaard is charm itself. Without giving anything away, let’s just say you are beguiled into denial for a seductive temporary ride. Emma Thompson has a very minor role, EXCEPT she does place into focus the plight of women in the 60’s: What career choices were available to women graduates of Oxford in that period ? Let’s see – you could teach other women to get into Oxford so that they could then teach … etc.

After all, Jenny is just a teenager. So be kind and tolerate her “education”. Great film!

One thought on “An Education (2008)”

  1. I saw this twice – enjoyed it the first time. I think the naivete of the parents was a bit unrealistic- the father, Alfred Molina made a very quick switch from insisting that his daughter go to Oxford and then being charmed into turning his 17 year old daughter over to a man he barely knows.

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