Review of An Education (2009) by Paul W — 27 Feb 2011

First let me point out that 16 is the legal age of consent in the UK, so the film doesn't seem too creepy.

Actually...no it is still very sleazy that 16-year old Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is the target of the lustful advances of David (Peter Sarsgaard), a man twice her age. Whether the film accurately reflects the experiences of what happened in Lynn Barber's memoir or not, everyone in this film just seems oblivious to common sense. No one seems to mind or even question the sudden attention of an unknown, older man in this young girl's life: even Jenny's usually overprotective father sees nothing wrong. The plot isn't bad, but it is predictable in that you already know that things will not end well. What is shocking, though, is how little of an impact that everything seems to make on the characters. What should have made a huge impact on the audience and this young girl's life is written off as something with the significance of just another bad day. Which is a shame for a film so beautifully shot and well-acted.