nan | 楠木

An Education is a delightful little film with a big coming-of-age story to tell, and well worthy of its Best Picture nomination at the upcoming Academy Awards. Set in England in the early 60s, the film narrates the the life-changing events of 16-year old Jenny (beautifully portrayed by young actress Carey Mulligan, who in more than one scene evokes images of Audrey Hepburn).

The story revolves around two themes. The first is a predictable yet still heart-wrenching tale of a young girl falling for an affluent and cultured older man (Peter Sarsgaard in a perfect role). As is always the case, the man – David – is not all he claims to be, but he gives Jenny enough excitement and surprises that she goes along for the ride anyway (and pays the price). The second theme is a subtle but thought-provoking discussion of women’s liberation. Jenny is a well-educated and extremely smart young girl, and part of the reason she falls for the thrills is that she doesn’t see a future for her life – what is the value of an Oxford education (her parents’ dream for her), if she would only end up being a house-wife or a “boring” profession such as a high school teacher? So when the sand castle of romance finally crumbles, the most valuable thing that Jenny has lost is not her chastity (another theme in the film) or her shot at Oxford, but her dream of escaping the “boring” and “dead” world. And while that is a particularly bleak moment in the film, Jenny ultimately comes to terms with her condition and rediscovers her meaning and purpose in life, ending the film on a positive note.

This is a blissful film to watch, effusive with the energy and innocence of youth. And like any good coming-of-age film, it strikes a chord emotionally with the audience through the process of innocence lost and wisdom gained. It reminds us of our own youthful days, the forgotten dreams, the could-have-beens and the disappointments that saw us mature. While its chances at winning Best Picture are slim – it doesn’t fit the typical profile of the winners historically – I’m really happy that it got the nomination. More people need to see this delightful gem of a picture.

9/10