AN EDUCATION is one of the year's best films, and features a virtuoso, star-making turn from Carey Mulligan. Adapted by Nick Hornby, from Lynn Barber's memoir, AN EDUCATION is a period set drama, which once again belies the notion that Britain doesn't have a film industry to be proud of. Directed by Dane, Lone Scherfig, AN EDUCATION is pretty much pitch perfect in essaying a believable 1960s London, in which our central protagonist must balance her (and her parents') ambitions to go to a prestigious university, with the excitement of a fledgling romance with an older man. Hornby has done a fine job in turning Barber's story into a film (and one with a likable heroine - no mean feat considering...).
Much of the credit for this should go to Carey Mulligan, whose performance is exquisite. In a cast of experienced and excellent actors, she stands head and shoulders above the rest, so beautifully judged is her performance, and the transition from teenaged girl to young woman has rarely been handled with such empathy and accuracy on screen.
Alongside Mulligan are a who's who of screen talent, including Olivia Williams, Emma Thompson, Peter Sarsgaard, Dominic Cooper, Rosamund Pike and a never better Alfred Molina. It's an actors' showcase, and the understated direction is perfectly attuned to this. Credit too, to Hornby, whose script is warm and witty, and occasionally incredibly moving.
Very highly recommended.
No comments:
Post a Comment