Review: An Education - A grown up film about growing up

Based on journalist’s Lynn Barber’s memoirs and adapted by the unlikely choice of bloke-lit author Nick Hornby, An Education tells the story of Jenny, a bright but sheltered teenager in 1960s London who questions her future of studying and university when she meets dashing older man David.

Director Lone Scherfig, treats the material with a plain, unfussy approach – the only real moments of stylistic interest come during Jenny’s trip to Paris – which, with the subject matter and settings being fairly well covered in British cinema does make the film seem somewhat unexceptional. Ultimately however this proves to be the right decision as stylistic tics would only distract from such a strong script, and it allows attention to be focused on the performances of the uniformly excellent cast.

In particular Peter Sarsgaard is an inspired choice as he portrays David with an extraordinary amount of charm, making it easy to understand why Jenny falls so hard for him. Rather than draw attention to his suspicious and sinister motives, the film trusts the audience enough to reveal this gradually with small details such as his queasy choice of pet-names. Also excellent is Olivia Williams as Jenny’s teacher, her normally beautiful looks hidden behind a severe hairstyle and ugly glasses, highlighting the tragedy of a character who’s potential has gone unrecognised.

It’s somewhat fitting that a film about the process of growing up is one of the most grown-up films to come out of Britain in some time, covering similar ground to The History Boys (and sharing one of its stars) but in a more honest and less theatrical manner. Also, despite its focus on the small tragedies of adolescence, such as the inability of teenagers to comprehend the consequences of the choices they are expected to make, the film offers a warm, funny and genuinely uplifting experience.