Education Comes from Many Places

An Education

Directed By: Lone Scherfig

Starring: Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, & Alfred Molina

I imagine that watching An Education is about as close to watching your own daughter make the same mistakes as Carey Mulligan's Jenny as you can get without actually having a daughter. You will feel angry, sad, and frustrated, but it is worth it. An Education is a marvelous movie, elegant and poignant. It follows Jenny, a naive sixteen year old schoolgirl who feels stifled by her strict father (Alfred Molina) and her schooling. She wants to have fun, to listen to French music, and to attend nice concerts. When a charming, but older man named David (Peter Sarsgaard) happens upon her one day and offers her a ride, she is immediately smitten. He invites her to a concert, introduces her to all of his interesting friends, and promises to bring her to Paris with him. She knows that this is just what she needs and wants out of life...and even her parents, however intelligent they might be, are charmed by David, who has a way of making them agree to anything, usually by insisting that his Aunt Helen will be their chaperon. I'll give you a little hint; he doesn't have an Aunt Helen and, even if he did, I doubt she would be accompanying them on their overnight trip to Oxford. Alas, Jenny's parents fall for it hook, line, and sinker. Obviously, we know better. We know Jenny should be more cautious...but, then again, David isn't winking at us, is he?

Now, I must be honest and admit that David is not really a villain in the technical sense of the word. He isn't planning on raping, murdering, or robbing Jenny or her parents. He is a man who has made a living out of getting exactly what he wants, and now, more than anything, he wants Jenny. The talented and underappreciated Peter Sarsgaard is wonderful as David; at times, he is so convincing that you'll wish it were you who was blowing off school to go to an art auction. Some of this can be attributed to Sarsgaard's unconventional good looks and natural charm, but most of it is due to his talent and ability to command the screen. You kind of like him, even though you know you should probably hate him. Jenny grows to love him quickly, much to the dismay of her teacher (Olivia Williams) and headmistress (an underused Emma Thompson). They repeatedly warn her that the path she is choosing, a path that throws away school in favor of becoming a "kept woman," is dangerous. They know this, because they have never met David, have not had the chance to gaze upon that slick mouth and those deep eyes as he spins an all-too-convincing tale about how marvelous and safe he is. Had they met him, I suspect they would have been just as impressed.

I won't spoil the rest for you, though it is easy to decipher just where An Education is headed before it gets there. Stories like this have been told many times before and, though this is one of the best versions of it I have ever seen, that doesn't make it any less predictable. Obviously, David is not exactly who he claims to be, and Jenny must learn a very difficult lesson from her own immaturity. After all, the movie is called "An Education," and, therefore, someone must be educated. Carey Mulligan, a relative newcomer, is beyond brilliant as Jenny. She captures the initial naivety of her character and then flawlessly matures to a wiser person whose newfound knowledge shows not just in her actions, but in the way she presents herself. At the end, Jenny thoughtfully remarks, "I feel old. But, not very wise." You see, though she learns a great deal from her relationship with David, she still has much to learn about life. Mulligan captures these small themes so perfectly in her subtle and touching performance. When Mulligan was nominated for an Oscar and had to do all of the obligatory interviews associated with the honor, she always seemed so innocent and shy. It is inspiring to see a full-fledged star who still knows humility; that is also why Mulligan is so effective here. She is willing to be completely uninhibited and give herself completely over to her character. Many have said it before, and I will too: a star is born.

An Education is really a great movie. It is a period piece, which might frighten off some viewers, but those who are hesitant should know that this does not have the characteristics that generally scare people away from such movies. It is not as stuffy or bleak as you might expect; though it does take place in a very complex and conflicted time, it brings out the light and beauty of the period. You will be glad to be submerged in this world, in the elegance and sophistication of it all. The people are beautiful, the sets are often gorgeous, and director Lone Scherfig captures it all with a keen eye for style. An Education is also surprisingly humorous, which helps it avoid becoming too heavy-handed for its own good. Alfred Molina, especially, brings unexpected comic relief to the movie as Jenny's father. He begins the movie as a tough-as-nails alpha-male, but crumbles into a bumbling, stumbling goofball the moment David smirks at him. An Education balances it drama and humor effortlessly, finding a carefully-crafted middle ground that should help it appeal to diverse audiences. I encourage you to see this movie. It is simply wonderful as a standalone movie, but, even if you don't care to see it for that reason, you really should for Carey Mulligan's performance. You can practically see an A-list star being born right before your eyes. It's worth it.