An Education

It is 1961. Attractive and smart 16-year-old Jenny (Carey Mulligan) from Twickenham is becoming a woman while listening to Juliette Greco and dreaming of a refined life bathed in the smoke of Gauloises. She feels dominated by the daily monotony and cannot wait to become an adult. She is a diligent student; she achieves great results in all her subjects except Latin. An exam passed with good results, of which her father is convinced, may guarantee Jenny a place at Oxford University.

One day, a rather inappropriate suitor appears. He is a thirty-something man named David (Peter Sarsgaard). David introduces the innocent young girl to a dazzling world of philharmonic concerts and dinners with his attractive friend and partner Danny (Dominic Cooper) and his beautiful yet vain girlfriend Helen (Rosamund Pike). Jenny’s traditional education sinks into oblivion, and the teacher’s role is taken over by David who takes her straight from school to an art auction and night clubs.

elab. A.Sz.