Two thumbs way up for this little masterpiece! I usually shy away from older man-younger woman stories. But this one is different. Peter S and Carey M create such a unique chemistry, that the relationship became believable. First off, Carey is another Audrey Hepburn. Cute, pert, intelligent, sensitive. She plays the role of the naive, rebellious young school girl with charm and wit. As she's swept off her feet by the older suitor, we somehow root for her. Will this infatuation with the adult, bohemian lifestyle be for real? Then, smash! We learn that her gentleman and his friend are not so savory. Thieves, to be exact. At this point, we think Carey, the well-bred girl, will walk...but lo and behold, she compromises her ethics and stays with the man! As you note, Valery, when ethics get blurred, interesting things happen in the film world! Finally, of course, the young girl (and we) learn what a real louse the suitor is. There's a universality to this film that strikes home: Somehow, in most relationships (even "normal" looking ones), one party is more gullible and trusting than the other. This message provides the true worth of the film: We will never forget how the trusting can get screwed in life. A+ story, beautifully executed.
I liked this movie. But I begin with a disclaimer. I am a sucker for Peter Sarsgaard; don't know why. But I get sucked in by him only to have his characters usually turn out to be ne'er do wells of the worst (sometimes criminal) kind. (You know he is married to Maggie Gyllenhaal. Funny they both have double "a" in surname.)
ReplyDeleteCarey Mulligan is perfectly cast. Her transformation back and forth between childhood and womanhood is mesmerizing, depicting the awkward liquidity of adolescence.
Script is tightly drawn creating authenticity to her motivation. I personally know this girl. I know David. I know his friends. I know her parents. I know the era. Wow.
I always love clever use of multi-layered metaphorical titles (see The Fall). An Education follows suit. Obviously classroom education and that of hard knocks. But this leads me to the education of other fairly minor, yet no less dynamic characters. Alfred Molina (always outstanding) is misguided but well-intentioned and his education comes outside his daughter's bedroom door. The mother is one of the most fascinating characters here. She misses many moments for real communication with him and daughter...(for God's sake, why didn't she talk to her after that date?) She is dying on the vine, thus she, too, gets sucked into the quicksand of David's charm.
The English teacher deserves her own movie. Oh wait, we had The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. haha. She, Jenny, and the entire movie speak to an era when women were hatching. The cracks of oppression often lead to misconceptions in choices: Education vs. fun. Career vs. exciting, pleasurable life. Marriage vs. loneliness. Teaching vs. wearing your hair down!
Jenny makes me think about so many, many other young girls who make pivotal misguided, short-sighted choices at that age, only to never find their way back to their potential. Haven't we seen that a lot as high school teachers!
A couple side notes: I always appreciate good use of the voice-over narrations. However, recently I saw a movie that began with voice-over then was not heard again! An Education does the opposite: at the film's conclusion, suddenly we hear Jenny's voice-over. What the...? I noticed it is based on a memoir; seems like they just threw it in at end. Very fragmenting.
Also, I am mad for Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood art, so all the references to that were cool!
Finally, my favorite line came from school mistress, Emma Thompson, chuckling, "Oh, you're not a woman." Ouch.
Very good movie.
Right on, Valerie! I really enjoy--and agree with-- your comments. Did not know that Peter and Maggie were married...both so creative! (I recently loved Maggie in Crazy Hearts....but that's a different matter!).
ReplyDeleteYes, Carey does indeed move with "awkward liquidity" (wonderful descriptors, English teacher!) between adulthood and childhood. We might note that this fluidity provides the uniqueness of this portrait of adolescence. Rarely do kids visit both worlds with such ease and lack of conflict.
The metaphorical title: Nice observation, Valerie. Yes, the "education" is everywhere, inside the class, at home, in the streets, in the presence of the headmistress, and so on.
Good notes on the minor characters. I get very, very annoyed at portraits of parents who, because of their own aspirations for their kids, end up enablling dysfunctinal behavior. In fact, in Jane Austen's world, the desperate need parents feel to "marry off" their daughters and place them well really gets my goat! I rely on parents, in the film world and in the real world, to be their kids' best defenders, not participants in their demise.
Loved the English teacher too. As teachers, we always marvel at those in our ranks who step out of the common role and really help kids. Few and far between. Of course, in today's world, our hands were always tied about how much we could intervene...and keep our jobs!
Jenny reminds me too of misguided girls. Teenage girls seek to fulfill their hearts. They think they're madly in love...when guys only see an opportunity for sex. I believe that these early "dating" years create much of the damage to souls we see in later life. Girls suffer their first major disappointments with men so early!
Emma does indeed knock us over with her strict, nonwavering principal's role. As always, she shines.
You finish with "very good movie"... sounds B+ ish. I'd give it an A.