An Education Film

3 out of 5

Exploring the maturation of a young ambitious girl in 1960s London, An Education is not an easily-digested film. Nor is it a film which wraps up its message in a neat box for the viewer, despite an ending which erroneously tries to do so. Focusing on a relationship with an older man, the film subtly is informed by the reality of being a young woman during those times – the choices, the limitations and the realities. This is a time when feminism was very much in its early stages and the decision between a career and a husband seemed to be a mutually exclusive one. When the choices for women seem to be either to have a career and no personal life, or sacrifice your personal ambition leaving you completely vulnerable and tied to the man in your life. Not an easy decision, and one with which the main character, Jenny, played by the fantastic Carey Mulligan struggles with throughout the film.

Interestingly, the film also explores the morality of love and bending the rules when you believe you are doing so for all the right reasons. Whether it’s love or excitement or blind rebelliousness, it is difficult to judge any of the characters too harshly, even the older man who takes advantage, the usually underrated Peter Sarsgaard.

For all the moral qualms and ambiguous choices that the characters in the film have and all the ambiguous choices they make, the film errs in trying to make a complex story cleaner and simpler for the audience to digest. It would be easy to label the characters of the film as right or wrong. Stupid or smart. But to do so would be to miss the point. Ultimately all the people have their redeeming qualities and have made peace within themselves with their choices – some moral and some less so – but that is compromise that we all make. A compromise that is sometimes quite compromising in the name of excitement or love.

The movie accurately portrays the sometimes painful experiences of growing up. It is sometimes said that growing up first means killing the ideas and restrictions of your parents, gods, and teachers. Only then are you free from preconceptions and are able to formulate opinions and make your own decisions – right or wrong. And that is ultimately what Jenny does in the film.

Ultimately, a quality movie examining a complex situation during a time that was quite different from ours today. However one that doesn’t move the emotional needle of the audience too much in either direction – no need for tissues.