An Education

2009
PG-13
1h 40m

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

139K

YOUR RATING

Peter Sarsgaard and Carey Mulligan in An Education (2009)

A coming-of-age story about a teenage girl in 1960s suburban London (Mulligan) and how her life changes with the arrival of a playboy nearly twice her age (Sarsgaard).

Play trailer2:25

18 Videos

99+ Photos

Coming-of-Age Drama

A coming-of-age story about a teenage girl in 1960s suburban London, and how her life changes with the arrival of a playboy nearly twice her age.A coming-of-age story about a teenage girl in 1960s suburban London, and how her life changes with the arrival of a playboy nearly twice her age.A coming-of-age story about a teenage girl in 1960s suburban London, and how her life changes with the arrival of a playboy nearly twice her age.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

139K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 3 Oscars
- 36 wins & 96 nominations total

Videos18

Trailer 2:25

An Education

Clip 3:30

The Rise of Carey Mulligan

Clip 3:30

The Rise of Carey Mulligan

Photos122

+ 116

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The creative team was initially worried about casting the 22-year-old Carey Mulligan in the role of a 16-year-old but was convinced by her screentest. Rosamund Pike reportedly really wanted the small part of Helen because "no one ever lets me be funny."

Goofs
When Jenny finally passes her A levels, she mentions grades. The film is set in 1961 - A level grades were first introduced in 1963. Although,when she's studying at home, it is implied that a significant amount of time passes, it is unlikely to have taken her beyond 1962 when, essentially, you either passed or failed GCE exams.

Quotes
Jenny: If you never do anything, you never become anyone.

Crazy credits
The opening credits are shown against a background of animated chalk-like drawings, all illustrating various stages and segments of "an education," although not sequentially.

Connections
Featured in The 81st Annual Academy Awards (2009)

Soundtracks
Smoke Without Fire
Written by Duffy and Bernard Butler
Performed by Duffy
Courtesy of A&M/Polydor Records (UK), Mercury Records (US)

User reviews287

Review

Featured review

7/10

Well made, terrific acting

I was 14 years old in 1961, just a couple of years younger than the girl here. A couple of years later, I too was involved with an older married man. (But not to worry, the next year I entered hippiedom and all was very, very different.) What I'm trying to say is, "Been there, done that" except in my case it was Evansville, Indiana and not London. Too bad. Anyway, I was not as sophisticated as this 16 year old (neither was he, by the way) but I reveled in the mystery and adventure of the adult world also the lies and deceit. The thing is, now that I'm an Aging Hippy, Retired, the age difference of the girl/man couple disturbed me. I was also disturbed by the acceptance of the parents. The movie was well made, the actors do a terrific job, and it made me think. My reaction is my own personal bugaboo. Just thought I'd put it out there.