AN EDUCATION (2009)

MyRating: YYYY

Director: Lone Scherfig
Cast: Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Dominic Cooper, Rosamund Pike, Olivia Williams, Emma Thompson
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving sexual content, and for smoking

When you were (are) a teenager, have you ever thought that your world around you is revolving too slow, that you wish you could grow up fast enough to experience the things that the adults experience? Jenny Mellor (Mulligan) is a pretty, diligent and high achiever student in her 16's, living with her parents in a London suburb in the early 1960's. Even though she is bright and has a promising future, as she and her parents have set a goal for her to study in Oxford, Jenny feels that her teenage life and the small town she lives in are boring and not challenging enough for her big curiosity towards life.

So, when she meets with David Goldman (Sarsgaard), a charming man twice her age who possesses every persona except being bored, Jenny quickly realizes that life could not be learned merely in the classroom. David introduces her to many new things and excitements that she could never imagine as a schoolgirl, from concerts, nightclubs, fancy restaurants, interesting friends... and Paris, a city she dreams to visit. He can even win her conservative parents' hearts. Naturally, Jenny falls in love with David and his seductions. But when their relationship grows more intimate and Jenny learns more about David, she has to decide whether her goal to go to Oxford is still worth to be pursued or she will sacrifice her future for this man.

A star is born! And her name is Carey Mulligan. This beautiful and attractive young actress shows a very good performance as the leading lady, that made her nominated for the Best Actress by The Academy. She is successfully portraying the character of Jenny and refreshing the screen with her youthful appearance. I see a big star quality in her and I believe, with her fine acting, she will continue to shine in the near future.

Peter Sarsgaard is also smooth as the charming and seductive David, and Alfred Molina is fun to watch as Jenny's father.

This is a beautiful film about finding your true self. Loved the story. Loved the movie. Loved Mulligan. (MJ)