Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Harmonia (A) on March 24, 2010 at 15:44:39

In Reply to: RE: Okay film, nothing to go wild about. nt posted by tinear on March 20, 2010 at 16:47:52

..especially for Nick Hornby's wonderfully humane and witty script, the way he takes characters whose outlines could easily be too broad and fills them in with shades of light and dark, drama and humor. They all have so much energy and texture, even the minor roles, that you (or at least I couldn't) help but find them compelling.

The story is hardly a new one, but through director Lone Scherfig's skill and the actors' beautifully observed performances we see the world through the protagonist's (Jenny's) young eyes. We are charmed by Sarsgaard's David and the allure of a more glamorous life right along with Jenny, even though we know he's far too good to be true. We are fascinated as David manipulates Jenny and her well meaning but unsophisticated parents. And we understand Jenny's frustrations and fierce longings - some of us no doubt felt those same longings for excitement and adventure ourselves at a similar age. But what exactly does David's smooth charm hide and how hard will be Jenny's fall?

The filmmakers evoke a wonderful sense of time and place, a rather grey and staid post-war London: before the sexual revolution, before swinging London, before the youth quake, when snagging a husband was one of the main goals of higher education, not just earning a degree (in the US as well as UK BTW). They also deftly capture the hopes and insecurities of Jenny's parents which render them so vulnerable to manipulation by the likes of David. And most importantly, while eventually shown to be no better than we feared him to be, they succeed in making David a flawed human being and not merely a cardboard villain.

The movie steers carefully away from cliche. And what is at stake is enormous. It's not a tale of a silly schoolgirl but of a vibrant young woman's search for identity. Jenny finds out there are no shortcuts in life and blythe choices can have emotionally devastating consequences - surely that's the story of us all. Carey Mulligan's star-making turn captures a time in a most memorable young woman's life in such indelible fashion you are completely captivated.

It's easy for those who are not especially observant to dismiss this movie. But An Education is about so much more than a young girl trying to get a place at university.

I am not surprised that our resident French cinophile got it.