“TEEN IN HEAT”
Starring: Peter Sarsgaard, Carey Mulligan, Alfred Molina, Dominic Cooper, Rosamund Pike, Cara Seymour, Olivia Williams, Sally Hawkins, and Emma Thompson
Directed by: Lone Scherfig
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for mature thematic material involving sexual content, and for smoking.
Genre: Art/Foreign, Drama, Romance, Adaptation and Teen
Release date: October 2009
By John Delia
This nicely played out story based on the actual memoirs of an affair is simple and amusing. Although it is somewhat similar to Lolita, being an actual happing does give it an edge over the famous themed film of older man soliciting a teenager. But, An Education is a love story no matter how distasteful or prurient as the acting and direction make it entertaining.
We find Jenny (Carey Mulligan) a bright attractive 16-year-old schoolgirl busting the cure in her classes yet being totally smothered by her parents who are very guarded about her social life. Jenny is more mature than her classmates and finds herself stifled when it comes to romance. One day while standing in the rain she is approached by David (Peter Sarsgaard), a very handsome 30 year old man with the flair of a salesman who convinces her to allow him to take her home. David runs into her again and this time asks her for a date if Okayed by her parents. At the meeting with her parents who are taken aback by his age, he sells himself in spite of their objections and a romance begins between David and Jenny. When the romantic affair is interrupted by an extenuating factor, Jenny makes a life altering decision.
The storyline is very difficult to make into a film as today’s morals have taken a downturn as to where adulthood begins and how much sexuality is allowed in a pre-marital relationship. So in An Education I did not find the story, although an uncommon occurrence in 1961, to be that shocking. I did however feel that Jenny’s experience was embellished as to what David was able to get away with and the naiveté of the parents.
Making a film about the 60’s England, Oxford, Paris and keeping it within the realm of the era is difficult, but director Lone Scherfig is spot on. With all the traffic in London and the burbs you would expect to see a few flaws, but I couldn’t find a one. From school to city to highways, the costumes, cars, sets and cinematography kept story in line with the period.
An Education is rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving sexual content, and for smoking. The smoking however was necessary to set the era.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A well-produced film with a coming of age storyline. (3.5 of 5 Palm Trees)