MOVIE: AN EDUCATION

MOVIE: AN EDUCATION

Screenwriter Nick Hornby, renowned for his tales of boyish men, enters new territory in this coming-of-age drama about Jenny (Carey Mulligan) a talented schoolgirl with academic aspirations, seduced by an older man (Peter Sarsgaard) and his glittering lifestyle in 60s London. Stand-outs from the fantastic supporting cast include Rosamund Pike as the utterly enchanting but dim-witted Helen, while Alfred Molina plays Jenny’s father with an oblivious tenderness. Molina’s role is infused with Hornby’s trademark humour, poking fun at British self-restraint and middle class morality. The distinctly British feel of the film is nicely offset by the cameo appearance of Paris, shot exquisitely, while Jenny’s obsession with French culture provides a hedonistic contrast to her drab, academic lifestyle, underlying the film’s central dilemma. A charming, simplistic story makes for a very likable film without being particularly revolutionary about its message. (LR)

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