An Education takes place in London in the early 1960s. This was a time of change all around the world. People were exploring new ways of life. Jenny, beautifully played by Carey Mulligan, is a schoolgirl with the desire to advance to Oxford. Her father is pushing her in that direction as well. He tells her she can either get a good education at Oxford or she’ll have to marry a rich man.
Getting into Oxford is Her Goal
Jenny is a wonderful student. Her only problem is with Latin, but she is working hard on that language. She has joined the youth orchestra, on the advice of her father (Alfred Molina) because he says it looks good on her application to Oxford. Everything he tells her to do is for the ultimate goal of getting accepted to Oxford.
One day while standing in the rain Jenny is approached by David (Peter Sarsgaard), who is driving a very unique and expensive Bristol car. He offers her a ride home. After a short discussion, she finally accepts. He is taken by this young woman’s intelligence and wit. David is an older, worldly man. Jenny is seduced by his knowledge of the world and his travels.
Jenny Discovers a Whole New World
Soon David is asking her out to concerts and showing her a new life. Jenny is excited to be taken to clubs, dinners, and auctions. She is coming-of-age, but in a different environment than she would if it were not for David and his friends. They transform her appearance and attitudes.
Jenny is only sixteen years old, and tells David she will remain a virgin until she is seventeen, which he says is a very wise thing to do. But her seventeenth birthday is not far away. David sees this as an opportunity to help Jenny enter womanhood and invites her to Paris for the weekend. With some very slick talk, he convinces her parents to let her go, with the understanding that his “aunt” will be her chaperone.
While in Paris Jenny sees the City of Lights in a way only one who is in love can experience it. Jenny’s adventures in Paris take her on a new path in life.
A Fork in the Road for Jenny
But back home she must confront the decision to continue on her path to Oxford, or chose another path, with David. This rich and experienced man can offer her a life she had never dreamed of. But his life is filled with unsavory dealings. His wealth is not all on the up-and-up.
The climax of the story is a shock to all the characters. Jenny learns more about life than anything she has read about in her schoolbooks. Carey Mulligan’s performance is worthy of notice. Her appearance is similar to Katie Holmes when she began her career. Carey is definitely one English actor to watch in the coming years.
An Education is rated PG-13. It runs 95 minutes.
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