An Education (2009)
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A bright schoolgirl's life is transformed by a whirlwind romance with an older man who leads her into a world of culture and deception.
The story
In 1961 London, Jenny Mellor is a bright and attractive 16-year-old schoolgirl who aspires to attend the University of Oxford. Her studies are controlled by her strict father, Jack. Her life takes a turn when she meets David Goldman, an older man who shares her love for music. After a chance encounter in the rain, David begins to involve her in a world of art and culture. Despite her father's initial skepticism, David's charm leads to a burgeoning relationship that challenges Jenny's boundaries and her future plans, as she navigates the complexities of a romance with a man who presents himself as a sophisticated mentor.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1961 London, 16-year-old Jenny Mellor dreams of attending Oxford. After meeting David Goldman, an older man who shares her passion for music, she is introduced to a world of art and culture. Though her father, Jack, is initially wary, David's charisma wins him approval. The pair travels to Oxford and later to Paris, where Jenny loses her virginity and accepts David's proposal of marriage. However, while preparing for a celebration, Jenny discovers through his belongings that David is already married. After a confrontation, David abandons her. Following a period of despair and a realization of the lies she and her parents participated in, Jenny reconciles with her teacher, Miss Stubbs, and returns to her studies, eventually being accepted at Oxford the following year.
- First release year
- 2009
- Runtime (minutes)
- 100
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Lone Scherfig
- Writers
- Nick Hornby · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Carey Mulligan · Jenny; Peter Sarsgaard · David; Alfred Molina; Rosamund Pike; Dominic Cooper; Olivia Williams; Emma Thompson
- Genres
- drama; coming-of-age
- Themes
- coming-of-age; deception; education
- Tone and mood
- charming
- Premise and plot tags
- period piece; romance
- Source material / true-story basis
- an article by journalist Lynn Barber
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics and was acclaimed for Carey Mulligan's performance.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 93% · scale: percentage · review count: 198; Metacritic · score: 85 · scale: 100 · review count: 34
- Awards and nominations
- Audience Choice · Sundance Film Festival · 2009 · win; Cinematography · Sundance Film Festival · 2009 · win; Best Hollywood Breakthrough Performance for a Female · Hollywood Film Festival · win; Best Picture · Academy Awards · 82nd · nomination; Best Actress · Academy Awards · 82nd · nomination; Best Adapted Screenplay · Academy Awards · 82nd · nomination; Best Actress · British Academy Film Awards · 63rd · win
- Production trivia
- Orlando Bloom was originally cast as David's friend Danny.; The film's screenplay was based on an autobiographical essay by Lynn Barber.; The film's production was completed before the full memoir was published in book form.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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