Movie review: 'An Education' ***1/2

By Carissa Eclarin

Arriving at the movie theater to watch “An Education” (an Oscar finalist for best picture), I wasn’t sure what to expect. What aspect of education would this movie focus on? The possibilities were endless. Was it about college? High school? Life? It turned out to be a little of each.

Set in 1960s London, “An Education” provides a coming-of-age lesson for its 16-year-old main character and viewers alike. At the eve of entering college, Jenny (newcomer Carey Mulligan received a Golden Globe and Oscar nomination as best actress) meets a charming man in his 30s named David (Peter Sarsgaard). She finds him much more interesting than the boys her age. After studying intensively for most of her school life to get into Oxford University, David shows her a glamorous world beyond her textbooks.

But what are David’s motives? Jenny's teacher, Ms. Stubbs (Olivia Williams), is suspicious. “Is your boyfriend interested in intelligence?” Ms. Stubbs asks. And will he ruin her plans to continue her studies? A series of perilous events happen thereafter as the movie unravels and revisits the whole meaning of “An Education.”

Based on a memoir, the movie not only reinforces the importance of education, but also responsibility. Jenny’s parents, who were very strict in the beginning, become unbelievably gullible in the end. Jenny, herself, was shocked that her parents would even let her spend time with a much older man. It is virtually unreal to see parents so lax, when today’s parents would be much more wary about older men with younger girls.

This also stresses an important message: Parents must always guide their children and be there for them. They must stick to their principles when raising their kids -- especially during critical times.

Sitting in the theater filled with middle-aged adults and older, I wondered why there weren't any teenagers around me. They are the ones who really need to see this movie and learn its important messages. In a way, the movie has come up short in attracting the audience the movie should be targeting. Perhaps the title, “An Education,” is too subtle. A different title or maybe a more descriptive subtitle explaining what the movie was about would have drawn in more teenagers.

The movie comes to a close with the message that it’s never too late. You can retrace your steps and learn from your mistakes; in fact, that's part of education and life.

“In a life I want, there are no shortcuts,” Jenny says. “. . . My choice is to do something with my life.” Her words speak to everyone. It’s up to an individual to do something with his or her life; an education is not just about what you learn, but about making smart decisions, too.