A wonderfully witty, stupendously well-acted British black comedy of manners about a bright 16-year-old schoolgirl (Carey Mulligan) falling in love with a handsome cad in his late 30's (Peter Sarsgaard). Set in London in 1961, the film deftly dances around its nabokovian theme with a graceful sophistication worthy of Oscar Wilde. It's sublime in its subtlety. Directed by Lone Scherfig ("Wilbur", "Italian For Beginners"). The sole drawback of this otherwise perfect gem - its needlessly excessive modesty in sexual matters. It's British, after all.
October 10, 2009
An Education (2009) ****
A wonderfully witty, stupendously well-acted British black comedy of manners about a bright 16-year-old schoolgirl (Carey Mulligan) falling in love with a handsome cad in his late 30's (Peter Sarsgaard). Set in London in 1961, the film deftly dances around its nabokovian theme with a graceful sophistication worthy of Oscar Wilde. It's sublime in its subtlety. Directed by Lone Scherfig ("Wilbur", "Italian For Beginners"). The sole drawback of this otherwise perfect gem - its needlessly excessive modesty in sexual matters. It's British, after all.
