An Education, Blu-ray (2009/2010)
Starring: Peter Sarsgaard, Carey Mulligan, Alfred Molina, Emma Thompson
Director: Lone Scherfig
Writer: Nick Hornby
Studio: BBC Films/Sony Pictures Classic 33176 [3/30/10]
Video: 2.35:1 anamorphic/enhanced for 16:9, 1080p HD
Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD MA (extras: English stereo)
Subtitles: English, English SDH, French
Extras: Commentary by director and actors Mulligan & Sarsgaard, “The Making of An Education,” Walking the Red Carpet, Deleted scenes, BD-Live
Length: 100 minutes
Rating: *****
Many reviewers have raved over this British film, which had three Academy Award nominations last year – for Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It is basically a coming-of-age drama which Hornby (High Fidelity, About a Boy) based on an autobiographical memoir by the girl played so beautifully by Carey Mulligan.
Jenny is a bright young school girl in 1960s London who plays the cello and is very taken with everything French, speaking phrases in French at inappropriate times. Her boring existence is suddenly changed radically thru running into a dashing older man who introduces her to a grander world of chic concerts and clubs, sophisticated friends and eventually her sexual awakening. David is such a smooth operator that he soon has her protective parents eating out of his hand and thru various lies succeeds in bedding Jenny under their noses. Her school headmistress and teacher warns her of what she is getting into, but Jenny fails to hear and is on verge of giving up her plans to attend Oxford. There quickly are indications that David isn’t quite as perfect as he seems, but the excitement of her new life keeps Jenny in the relationship until she shockingly is confronted with the real truth.
The cinematography is just right, especially the shots of the Paris trip. Not much use of the surround track, though. The music uses what sounds like some pop tunes of the 60s in Britain. All the minor roles are superbly acted, and although this isn’t a totally new story line, everything seems fresh and believable. The deleted scenes in the extras are interesting, with the alternative closing scene of David returning to request Jenny’s forgiveness quite clearly being unnecessary to the film.
— John Sunier
