An Education for the viewer.

Please be warned that this entire review was written to be read (to be heard in your mind) in an English accent.

The world of tumblr is very educational in the way of popular culture. For example, through the tumblr accounts I follow daily, I have learned that Carey Mulligan, is all the rage. It is for this reason that tonight, I set out to take in her performance in the 2010 film An Education. Now having done so, I can certainly see why.


This film, set smack in the middle of the twentieth century, displays the difficulty for a young girl in choosing higher education or discovering the things the world has to offer - often at some cost. Carey Mulligan plays sixteen (going on seventeen) year old Jenny Mellor who is quickly seduced by the worldly excitement older man David, played by Peter Sarsgaard, has to offer. As he opens to Jenny his world of wonder, beauty and experience, she discovers another world of deceit and betrayal, hidden beneath the glamor.


The portrayal of Jenny's home and parental relations were wonderfully stuffy, as was the nature of her scholarly education. This stands in stark contrast to the seemingly wild life David exposes her to. In being reprimanded for her rebellion she powerfully explains "It's not enough to educate us anymore, Ms. Walters, you've got to tell us why you're doing it." This scene, along with others at the climax of the film, bring forth a strong feminist statement for the time. It is said many times throughout the film that Jenny can be anything she wants to be; women have so many more options nowadays. The journey David takes her on and her willingness to leave her plans and future behind, show that even with the feminist progress that had been made, many barriers seemed to stand in the way of her living the kind of life she longed for. 


Carey Mulligan holds a wonderful yet painfully dangerous innocence about her character as she begins to interact with Sarsgaard - who incidentally does quite the believable English accent. As she progresses throughout the show, there is an obvious aging of her character. The talent of this young actress is most evidently shown in this. Other high points of the film include Emma Thompson as Jenny's school principle, Rosamund Pike (Pride and Prejudice) as David's friend and business cohort and as was already mentioned, Peter Sarsgaard, who truly showed his range as a philandering British business man.


Needless to say, from this rave review, I truly recommend a watch. But I beg of you, keep your ears open for the feminist strains. If you aren't open to seeing it with those eyes, you might - as some of my lesser friends did - find it dull. I, on the other hand, am putting it in my top ten.