Iffy for 14+
Intelligent period drama tackles mature teen topics.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this smart 1960s-set drama written by popular author Nick Hornby explores a teenager's efforts to define her future, which includes making a mess of her well-laid plans -- most notably by becoming involved in a relationship with a sophisticated man nearly twice her age. Virginity, education, class -- they’re all up for discussion and questioning. These are mature themes, but older teens should get a lot out of the movie. There's some sexual content (implied nudity and intercourse, kissing, and some risque discussion), as well as some era-accurate social drinking and smoking.
- Families can talk about how the movie portrays teen sexuality. How different do you think that depiction would be if the movie was set today, instead of in the '60s?
- What is the movie saying about the value of education? Does book learning always trump real-life adventure, or is life not that simple?
- What do you think of Jenny’s apparent change-of-heart about pursuingOxford? Why does she seem ready to forgo what she's worked for topursue a fling with a much older man (who may, in fact, not be exactlywho she thinks he is)?
The good stuff
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Messages: The film pits classroom education vs. real-world experiences -- but in the end, life demands a far more complex solution. Nevertheless, the importance of knowledge-seeking is made very clear, especially in the way it elevates the status of women.
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Role models: Jenny is admirable in many ways, especially her thirst for knowledge and respect for book learning. Realistically for a teenager, she's also impulsive and drawn to what is mysterious and possibly dangerous -- perhaps not literally, but emotionally (she’ll also fib to get what she wants sometimes). Still, she's able to face her mistakes and herself when necessary. Her parents are both permissive and controlling, which contributes to the situation in which she finds herself -- but they clearly love her.
What to watch for
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Violence: A couple argues loudly; two guys pilfer a map from a house and brusquely instruct their girlfriends to jump in the car.
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Sex: A man in his 30s courts a 16-year-old virgin. In one scene, he asks to see her breasts, and she acquiesces -- there’s no nudity, but she's shown opening her blouse. Later, they have sex, though they're only shown after the fact. Some kissing and much flirting. There’s also a somewhat frank discussion about intercourse and a risqué joke about a banana.
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Language: “Bloody hell,” “idiot,” and “stupid.”
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Consumerism: Car, cigarette, and perfume brands (like Chanel) that evoke luxury are mentioned or shown.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: A 16-year-old smokes French cigarettes (Gauloises). Some social drinking.
Fan Reviews provided by
5
A movie that depends on writing and talent. by birac
No gimmicks here,just a freshly discreet coming of age tale.Mulligan and Molina are not to be missed. Took mom and gf as an apology for missing an earlier dinner with them. Was planning on sleeping! Did not happen. An Education is a film we can all learn from,and takes me back to when my mom made me watch old movies with her and you had to actually pay attention and there was a real story. Both women totally related to the girl's emotions and dreams and attitudes. Do go. Definitely worth the money for serious filmgoers
4
An Education in Love by Crownover
Sarsgaard's 30 something David is an unlikely match for Mulligan's charming, precocious but naive 16 year old Jenny. She is drawn to him in spite of her better instincts. And her father, played so well by Alfed Mollina, is taken in along with his wife by David.
A terrific supporting cast creates Jenny's mother and David's beautiful but not unreasonably honest friends. The love affair is believeable and tenderly played. Jenny's educational path to Oxford suffers from the street smarts she gains with David. She is [BLOCKED WEBSITE]pelling character, intelligent, articulate, and very pretty. So viewers are easily swept into the world of adult play along with her. A blonde femme fatale vocalist provides a siren call to the party.
When crisis comes, David's commitment to Jenny seems displayed in his anguish. Her education comes at a price much higher than her father could anticipate. Audiences will empathize with her suffering, be satisfied with her resilience and enjoy this movie a great deal.
5
An Education - My review by Cincinnati_guy
In a nutshell - a very pleasant surprise ! Carey Mulligan is outstanding and most definitely worth seeing. A sophisticated coming-of-age movie about a very intelligent, mature beyond her years 17 year old high school girl set in a London suburb in 1961. The only child of a well intentioned but borderline abusive parents who are forcing her on a track to Oxford essentially to find a husband. Fortunately Jenny has too much intelligence and spunk to take this unthinking direction without comments. And comment she does - the best scene being with Emma Thompson, the domineering headmistress who cannot answer Jenny's simple question of Why go to Oxford ? It 's a great scene.
Jenny meets an older man who is the spark to the bonfire within Jenny just waiting to explode onto the world at large and Paris in particular. Overall a great movie, well acted and definitely worth seeing.
5
An Education by 102586
Not to be confused with the chick flick genre, yet it is a movie for young women and adolescent girls. The message, strong and clear that female intellectual talent and individualism is a virtue, is not seen typically seen in films today. This film is worthy of a Joan Crawford or Katherine Hepburn. Never dumbed down, rather, I want to see it again to catch the artistic references I only glimpsed. Show this to all 8th grade classrooms.
3
An Education by carolelombard
Plenty to talk about after seeing this movie.
Loved the acting, Alfred Molina doesn't ever have to prove himself. The rest of the cast was very good as well.
Not sure why certain details were included in the script. Probably wouldn't have been as thought provoking without them.
Young woman introduced in this film and playing the lead was very good, So reminded me of Katie Holmes!
Not a must see even with three stars, but certainly worth the price of admission.
5
an education is dead on by Cbartz
this movie is smart, witty, funny, and down to earth. jenny, the young girl who falls for an older man, is a sharp young woman who through her relationship with playboy david, goes from a clever but mousy girl to a sophisticated, charming audrey heburn look-a-like who waltzes through her new life with the panache and grace of a well-heeled life-long socialite. things are not what they seem, but nonetheless, this film shows its audience what is to be young and reckless and what it is to learn from mistakes and take risks....
2
Hey Rick0327 --An Education was indeed overtly Anti-Semitic by Ddogpics
You think An Education was not anti-semitic. Ok....lets try out the facts --- Saarsgaard immediately identifies himself as a Jew [what other movies has the lead star saying -- hi, I'm a catholic,or a baptist, a protestant, or a muslim, etc...I don't remember seeing any?]. Then he engages in the following despicable acts: he lies; he steals; he forges; he seduces & knocks up neighborhood underage girls ; he commits adultery; he abuses a poor black family; he's a coward for refusing to face Jenny's parents. There are disparaging remarks made about Jews throughout the movie, including the charge that Jews killed Christ. This was a coming of age movie...what did Saarsgard's religion have to do with the story line? Answer -- nothing at all. The only conclusion one must reach is that it was added to the script to intentionally make Jews look very bad. That's called overt anti-semitism. Strange that no other racial, ethnic or religous group was even identified in the movie...just Jews.
4
Saved by ultimate message by lovestalentmoviefan
I found this movie to be engaging and well acted.The heroine is simply looking for a way to grow up fast and demonstrate how much smarter and more enlightened she THINKS she is than her parents and teachers.To it's credit,the film kept forays into adulthood subtle and implied,rather than blatant and jolting. The exhilarations,discoveries and disappointments are poignantly conveyed. Performances that were sufficiently large and,conversely,understated where they needed to be accomplished this. Too bad that teenage girls aren't the targeted demo,because I think they would see alot of truth here. Not award winning,but enjoyable and worth my money at least one more time for discreet handling of what could have been a lurid tale. Exceptional acting on some parts
4
An Education by bully805
I liked it. Adult themed, initially made my wife uncomfortable. The female lead was very engaging.
4
2009 Oscar Contender by the_movie_queen
Without a doubt you will see An Education nominated for best screenplay (at the very least) at the 2009 Academy Awards, Nick Hornby has truly outdone himself in this latest romantic endeavor, a true dramedy that leaves you enthralled.