Saturday, October 17, 2009

An Education

A simple story, really. Set in England in the early 60's, Carey Mulligan plays Jenny, a young student who meets an older man and becomes enamored. We are able to follow her in her new found adventure as she learns about life, activity, human shortcomings and perhaps even love. Throughout, Jenny also struggles to find her own values as a distinct identity from that of her family (her father actually, who is played magnificently by Alfred Molina) and from that of her school instructors. Throughout, Mulligan really excels at showing her enthusiasm and pure pleasure at being an adult in an adult world. Her smile is brilliant, making you want to smile along with her, and this alone is enough to make the film enjoyable. In the end, when talking with her English teacher, Jenny confesses "I feel old, but not wise." An appropriate reflection after an adventure.
4 stars (out of 5)

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