Taking that well trodden route via Jane Austen, playing Kitty Bennett in the Keira Knightley “Pride & Prejudice” she played Kitty Bennett. Then the very impressive BBC series “Bleak House”. Back to Jane Austin for “Northanger Abbey” as well as appearances in Maple, Waking the Dead and a stand out performance in a very scary Dr Who episode “Blink” the one with the dangerous statues. Not missing out on theatre along the way, she was in the Royal Court, London, and production of Chekhov’s “The Seagull” that transferred to Broadway in 2008 which was a stunner! So it is not surprising that Carey Mulligan, let me repeat that name Carey Mulligan has taken the lead role in one of the best British films of the year, no not just British films, one of the best films of the year.
The film is “An Education” and it truly is. A period piece of sorts being set in the early 1960s and some of the costumes are wonderful, but this is not Jane Austin. It is a coming of age, loss of innocence growing up fast drama, with quite a few laughs thrown in. It is not a comedy it is a truly British drama tinged with dangerous romance.
It is about the relationship between a very intelligent 16-year-old Jenny, whose father is very, very keen for her to go to Oxford University, and a much older man, David. It would have been so easy for this film to appear sleazy, but it doesn’t. And that is down to Nick Hornbys script.
This is a Britain just before those Beatles changed it forever and ushered in the swinging 60s and when people still spoke the Queens English.
It is based on an article that journalist Lynn Bamber wrote about her first love, you can only ask, “What were her parents thinking” to let her get involved with this man David, played with great charm by Peter Sarsgaard.
A very fine film that could have so easily strayed into Lolita territory and that is down to the cast, including Emma Thompson, as the type of Headmistress that should now be compulsory in schools but has long gone, Dominic Cooper who is Davids friend and business partner. Rosamund Peake as a truly dumb blonde, but Alfred Molina as Jennys father very nearly steals the film, he has some of the best lines, not a comedy but some very light and funny moments.
Director Lone Scherfig, she is Danish, has made a film with no violence or swearing and only implied sex, this is very much in keeping with the period and all the better for it.
This is the film that will make Carey Mulligan a major star, a leading actress, she carries the film, without her performance that is both powerful and touching this would have been a very average film, instead a Star is born.
“An Education” will do for Carey Mulligans career what “Bend it like Beckham” did for Keira Knightleys career. Not to be missed.
Now on General release. Cert 12A but no 12 year olds of my acquaintance would get this very human grown up story. 10/10
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