Movie Monday: An Education

 "If you never do anything, you never become anyone."

So for today's Movie Monday I decided to go with a newer release. Admittedly I didn't see this one until it came out on DVD, but it came highly recommended and I have to say I loved it! In the film, the sweet Carey Mulligan plays Jenny, a teenager living in London in the early 1960s. While her parents pressure her to focus on her studies so as to end up at Oxford upon graduation, Jenny herself begins questioning the real value of education and schoolwork when she meets David, a suave sweet talker who is twice her age. Things start picking up rapidly as the two begin their grown-up relationship and Jenny goes from the dull life she once knew to an exciting, if not très risqué, whirlwind of concerts, parties and weekend getaways. And while she doesn't accept the importance of an academic education, what she ends up with is a far more real education in life and in love, the hard way. Equal parts indulgent and poignant, this film is definitely worth a watch. While one can't help but feel sorry for Jenny in her naivete, it's also easy to understand her desire for rebellion and her challenging of higher education, particularly at a time when women were given far less opportunities in the work force and were largely seen as housewives. Speaking of the 1960s, as you can imagine, the film is also a feast for the eyes when it comes to the fashion. Love it! Perfect casting (couldn't think of anyone better than Carey and Peter Sarsgaard in the lead roles), flawless performances.. I can't recommend this film enough!

Has anyone out there already seen this one? What were your thoughts? ♥

image via imdb.com