An Education

An Education

2009

Director: Lone Scherfig

Writer: Lynn Barber and Nick Hornby

100 Minutes

A coming of age story usually has three elements, according to the great Blade Snyder. Your hero has a life problem. You’re hero goes about it the wrong way. And finally, your hero accepts their fate.

In this film, Jenny (Carey Mulligan) has a problem: she wants a better life for herself. She feels an Oxford education is the answer until she meets David (Peter Sarsgaard), who offers her the exact life she’s wished upon without any work or effort – a wrong way to go about it - but fun way. And finally, her acceptance is only hard work and effort can lead to the life she wants, regardless of the men and experience in her life.

She is educated, both by institution and by life.

Jenny encounters David, a lying, cheating con artists who gets young girls to fall in love, while his wife and child rest at home. She falls in love. And sadly, Jenny suffers the same fate as others, but her quick-witted nature and extreme intelligence overcomes this villainous man and in the end, completes her goal of an Oxford education.

She was wrong and now is right.

Even knowing the end, this film speaks brilliance to a generation of confused woman making choices in their life. This film is set in London, 1960’s, but the meaning is relevant in America, 1960 and America, 2010. The question remains: should I attend school and pursue my goals as an independent woman or marry and have the security by my husband?

The question continues to boggle the female population.

In the scene above, Jenny has found David’s business to be less than reputable. He’s a con man, even in his profession. He steals art. Upset, she flees the scene and wants nothing to do with David, but David reaches out and explains that all the things she wants in life aren’t free and it takes a little con to enjoy the finer things in life.

If she only knew he was also talking about her.

But here, she has a choice. She could stay and smoke cigarettes, listen to jazz, and watch great films OR retire home and practice Latin.

She takes the easy option and thus, Jenny turns to the dark side.

She knows it’s wrong. She knows this path is immoral. But, she was having too much fun to notice. Until finally, the fun ran out and reality set in. David is found out. He is married. He’s a liar. And he never comes clean - leaving Jenny to deal with her lost education and disappointed parents on her own.

But above, Jenny’s expression means she’s on the fence and must decide her fate. Why would I take studying over partying? Why would I do homework over listening to music?

A choice.

It’s a choice most have to make and each choice determines what kind of life you lead. And although enjoyable, often times the fun runs out and you need something to replace it with. That’s Jenny’s education. And she realizes she needs a real education, an Oxford education, for her life to be fulfilled.

In the end, this film deserves high praises for its realism and defiance of the norm. It’s a moving piece of cinema and a wonderful character arch. Bravo to screenwriter Nick Hornby (writer of High Fidelity) for adapting Lynn Barber’s memoir. It makes you want to shake Mr. Hornby’s hand and hug Ms. Barber for giving us this gift.

To close, Jenny might have gained an education in this film, but the audience gains a pure escape by watching this immature journey. In life, we are all that immature. We just don’t know it until we've matured and realize how stupid we were.