Film Review: An Education

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As a former attendant of an all-girls school, this movie struck a particular chord with me. The main character, Jenny (Carey Mulligan), is anxious to leave the confines of her sheltered private school life with an all-too-attentive father who has nightly dreams of her attending the prestigious Oxford University, and break out in order to explore the hustle and bustle of a cultured lifestyle.

For a time, she is blind to the fragility what's been set before her by David (Peter Sarsgaard): nights out to fancy restaurants, race tracks, art auctions, and weekends in Paris. As a teenager rarely exposed to such luxuries, it's hard to resist. As a teenage girl, you daydream of a man whisking you away from the rigidity of competitive schooling and extracurriculars to a carefree life of surprise and romance. An older man has the illusion of wisdom and excitement rolled into one attractive package. Little does a girl know that the adult world is not all it's cracked up to be, and maturity is not defined by age, but the individual themselves.

The story itself is a beautiful one, and watching Jenny navigate her way through the mess she created for herself could inspire any drop-out to kickstart their lives and go for the ivy they've always dreamed of. If you want your teenage daughter to learn a lesson or two, this is a worthwhile short "education" (pun intended). If you're looking for a serious film that doesn't leave you feeling hopeless in the end, then I would say it's a must see. However, there's a sense of realism that is missing from this film. There are so many things that could've gone wrong, but simply didn't. I don't believe that every story should explore all of the horrible things life can throw at one individual, but maybe it should have just a few?


Jackie's rating: 4 stars out of 5

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