AN EDUCATION 3.5***

This is a charming and heartwarming “coming-of-age” period piece film which I truly enjoyed from beginning to end. And, by the way, it’s one of the 10 films nominated for an Oscar for “Best Picture”
It’s 1961, and 16 year old Jenny(Carey Mulligan) lives with her parents in the London suburb of Twickenham. At her father's wishes—more like demands-- everything that Jenny does is for the sole purpose of being accepted into Oxford University. Jenny is bright, pretty, hard working and naturally gifted. But Jenny is bored with her strict life at home and at school …she’s looking for fun and culture. Jenny's life dramatically changes after she meets David ( Peter Sarsgaard), a man over twice her age. David, who is smooth as they come, convinces Jenny and her family that his interest in her is not improper and that he wants to introduce her to cultural activities and the “good” life which she yearns for. Jenny quickly becomes accustomed to the life to which David and his constant companions, Danny and Helen, have shown her, and, not surprisingly, Jenny and David's relationship becomes a romantic one.
As a period piece, this is without a doubt one of the best I've seen this year. Its attention to period detail is second to none. It gets all the nuances just right, not only in the sets and music, but also in the mannerisms, speech patterns and behavior of the characters. As a result, the film creates an air of authenticity that really gives it that extra winning edge. The movie is also gorgeously shot, with luscious cinematography, and features a musical score that is dead on for the period and the mood of the film. But in a film like this, the technical excellence is all for naught without convincing performances, and here too the film really excels. The cast is headed by newcomer Carey Mulligan, and she is marvelous… truly a revelation ( she’s been nominated for Oscar’s Best Actress). For such a young actress (24), she manages not only to carry an entire movie on her shoulders, but also manages to create a unique and compelling character. As Jenny, she not only drives the plot but imbues the character with unique quirks and speech patterns as well as a maturity and feel for culture that belies her young age. These are the little details that really make a convincing, three-dimensional character, and Mulligan totally nails it. Co-starring with her is Peter Sarsgaard, who delivers a subtle but very effective performance as David, the older, wiser man who sweeps her off her feet.
The title "An Education" can be understood on two levels. As a coming-of-age story, it shows Jenny's "education" in the broader sense of learning lessons about life. Jenny goes from being a bright eyed school girl to a sophisticated young lady, Yet it also deals with her education in the literal sense of the word. So it raises the perplexing question of which is more valuable…formal academic education or informal education gained from living and experiencing the outside world??

A fine, small independent movie that far outshines so many of the big-budget “Hollywood’ movies… a definite “must see”.

Clark