David O'ConnellAN EDUCATION @ The Melbourne International Film Festival
August 4th 2009 06:13
You just can’t underrate the pleasure to be had from seeing a meaty, literate screenplay from a real writer come to vivid life on the screen. An Education, the new English film from Danish director Lone Scherfig - who made the excellent Italian for Beginners (2000) - is an adaptation of Lynn Barber’s memoir by acclaimed novelist Nick Hornby.
Set in Twickenham in 1961, it’s the tale of a schoolgirl on the cusp of adulthood who's wooed by an older man and drawn into a life lifted from the pages of magazines. Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is a talented cellist who dreams of a cultured life, immersing herself in foreign films, languages and literature. Through a chance meeting on a rainy night with a charismatic, early 30's stranger, David (Peter Sarsgaard), she’s shown through a portal at an intoxicating high society far removed from the dreariness of her own suburban existence.
Suddenly doors are opened as David lavishes her with constant attention and the prospect of luxurious weekends away with his friends, the wry Danny (Dominic Cooper), and his dimwitted girlfriend Helen (Rosamund Pike). Even more impressive is the influence David seems able to exert over her close-checking father Jack (Alfred Molina).
It seems Jenny's ship has come in with the man of her dreams smiling from the upper deck, naturally sparking the jealousy of classmates who are all caught up in the whirlwind of her suddenly exalted life. In contrast, the dire, knowing warnings from her teacher Miss Stubbs (Olivia Williams) and headmistress (Emma Thompson) offer dark perspectives that Jenny chooses to ignore at her own peril.
Will this potent mix of love and exorbitance last? Or is it all – this swift indoctrination into David’s world – just a mirage lulling Jenny into the light to be embarrassed before a captivated audience of friends and family?
The two leads are flawless: Mulligan’s effortless charm and radiant beauty showcase this gifted young actress as one whose star is headed for an inevitable rise into the stratosphere. Sarsgaard shines too in a very different role for him as a romantic lead, with an authentic English accent to match.
The support couldn’t be better; firstly, from the always masterful Molina as Jenny’s spendthrift father who hilariously backtracks in the face of David’s charm, aimed at prying Jenny out from under his wing. Pike as the clueless, ditzy Helen, and Williams as the stern Miss Stubbs are interesting in their own right, for different reasons.
Scherfig's deft, light hand and the recreation of the era are strong influences, but the foundation of this fantastic film is Hornby’s brilliant screenplay which is front-loaded with rich comedic moments before settling into compelling drama down the stretch. As well as its perfect balance of literary qualities and observational humour, it maintains a neat structure and credible narrative arc. Jenny’s rise, with her head suddenly thrust into the clouds, seems a wholly rounded one; a sobering reality, learning life isn't always like the effortlessly-attained prize of schoolgirl conceptions, offers hope of a believable resolution.
As well as being an engaging coming of age tale, An Education also offers plenty of valid points about the value of putting lofty aspirations on hold before meeting life head-on, ensuring a strong educational grounding. Maybe allowing your body to fill out into the proportions of an adult might be a relevant first goal to consider. Despite the ease with which Jenny’s dreams are met by David’s fatalistic intervention, a weighty crisis looms, and the path she decides upon at the most critical juncture she’s ever faced will be anything but easy.
Set in Twickenham in 1961, it’s the tale of a schoolgirl on the cusp of adulthood who's wooed by an older man and drawn into a life lifted from the pages of magazines. Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is a talented cellist who dreams of a cultured life, immersing herself in foreign films, languages and literature. Through a chance meeting on a rainy night with a charismatic, early 30's stranger, David (Peter Sarsgaard), she’s shown through a portal at an intoxicating high society far removed from the dreariness of her own suburban existence.
Suddenly doors are opened as David lavishes her with constant attention and the prospect of luxurious weekends away with his friends, the wry Danny (Dominic Cooper), and his dimwitted girlfriend Helen (Rosamund Pike). Even more impressive is the influence David seems able to exert over her close-checking father Jack (Alfred Molina).
It seems Jenny's ship has come in with the man of her dreams smiling from the upper deck, naturally sparking the jealousy of classmates who are all caught up in the whirlwind of her suddenly exalted life. In contrast, the dire, knowing warnings from her teacher Miss Stubbs (Olivia Williams) and headmistress (Emma Thompson) offer dark perspectives that Jenny chooses to ignore at her own peril.
Carey Mulligan as Jenny
Will this potent mix of love and exorbitance last? Or is it all – this swift indoctrination into David’s world – just a mirage lulling Jenny into the light to be embarrassed before a captivated audience of friends and family?
The two leads are flawless: Mulligan’s effortless charm and radiant beauty showcase this gifted young actress as one whose star is headed for an inevitable rise into the stratosphere. Sarsgaard shines too in a very different role for him as a romantic lead, with an authentic English accent to match.
The support couldn’t be better; firstly, from the always masterful Molina as Jenny’s spendthrift father who hilariously backtracks in the face of David’s charm, aimed at prying Jenny out from under his wing. Pike as the clueless, ditzy Helen, and Williams as the stern Miss Stubbs are interesting in their own right, for different reasons.
Meet the parents: Jenny with David, right (Peter Sarsgaard), Jack (Alfred Molina) and Marjorie (Cara Seymour)
Scherfig's deft, light hand and the recreation of the era are strong influences, but the foundation of this fantastic film is Hornby’s brilliant screenplay which is front-loaded with rich comedic moments before settling into compelling drama down the stretch. As well as its perfect balance of literary qualities and observational humour, it maintains a neat structure and credible narrative arc. Jenny’s rise, with her head suddenly thrust into the clouds, seems a wholly rounded one; a sobering reality, learning life isn't always like the effortlessly-attained prize of schoolgirl conceptions, offers hope of a believable resolution.
As well as being an engaging coming of age tale, An Education also offers plenty of valid points about the value of putting lofty aspirations on hold before meeting life head-on, ensuring a strong educational grounding. Maybe allowing your body to fill out into the proportions of an adult might be a relevant first goal to consider. Despite the ease with which Jenny’s dreams are met by David’s fatalistic intervention, a weighty crisis looms, and the path she decides upon at the most critical juncture she’s ever faced will be anything but easy.
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Comment by Anonymous
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Carey Mulligan is going to be huge. She plays a convincing 16 year old considering she's 24!
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I do really like Nick Hornby, though must admit have only read two of his books...
Great post David, and good to see you
Michaelie
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
You'll love An Education. It's getting a general release in October I think, keep an eye out for it. It was a real crowdpleaser at the Festival.