Monday, November 23, 2009

An Education

Movie name: An Education
Year of release: 2009
Director: Lone Scherfig
Stars: Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Cara Seymour, Olivia Williams, Emma Thompson, Rosamund Pike, Dominic Cooper, Sally Hawkins, Matthew Beard
Genre: Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:Lone Scherfig became well know as part of the Dogme movement that Lars Von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg began in Denmark. She directed the very interesting "Italian for Beginners" and "Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself" before reappearing with "An Education", based on the writings of Lynn Barber and adapted by novelist Nick Hornby (author of "About a Boy", "Fever Pitch" and "High Fidelity"). The film follows the coming of age of Jenny in 60s London. Jenny is an intelligent 16 year old who goes to a private school, but who secretly dreams of going to Paris, listening to more french music and leading a sophisticated and bohemian lifestyle. When she casually meets David, an older man with a taste in classical music, a whole new world seems to open up for her. David introduces Jenny to a new lifestyle, to new friends and in the process Jenny becomes a woman. Jenny ends up being faced with a situation that forces her to examine her life and choices. Lone Scherfig wisely chooses to focus the entire film in it's extremely talented cast. The story doesn't bring forth anything new, however the acting does make the entire film compelling, moving and indelible. Carey Mulligan is a highlight, since she embodies Jenny with an intelligence, but also innocence and wide-eyed optimism that a young woman has. Alfred Molina as Jenny's father is again fantastic and Peter Sarsgaard creates another morally dubious character who only attests for his great talent. A film well worth seeing!

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