
Family movie night? There's an app for that
Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.
An Education
By S. Jhoanna Robledo,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Intelligent period drama tackles mature teen topics.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
An Education
Community Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Wonderful film!!
Only for adults and maybe older teens
What's the Story?
Sixteen-year-old Jenny (Carey Mulligan) has fixed her sights on Oxford, and her striving dad (Alfred Molina) is happy to keep the pressure on until she gets there. Her teacher (Olivia White) believes she has what it takes, and Jenny does, too. But her plans are waylaid when she meets David (Peter Sarsgaard), a thirtysomething mystery man who hangs out with a fast crowd that introduces Jenny to a heady world of jazz, high art, fashion, Paris, and passion. How can the world of books compete?
Is It Any Good?
There are quibbles aplenty with AN EDUCATION -- Sarsgaard's wreck of an accent, to start, and a third act that attempts to wrap up too quickly to boot. But neither detracts from the period drama's considerable heft. This is a seriously good film. Nick Hornby, who wrote the screenplay based on a memoir by Lynn Barber, keeps the feel modern despite the 1960s setting (which is gorgeously rendered) with dialogue shot through the heart with essential truths.
And with Mulligan reciting Hornby's words, he can't lose. Watching her navigate the perils of near-adulthood is like an epiphany, and while Sarsgaard's accent is a throwaway, his acting isn't -- few actors can make creepy seem so appealing. Director Lone Scherfig presents London and Paris with a knowing glow -- Jenny is a firefly, and her wings, as we can only expect, will get scalded, if not burned. And yet we can't stop watching.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the movie portrays teen sexuality. How different do you think that depiction would be if the movie was set today, instead of in the '60s?
What is the movie saying about the value of education? Does book learning always trump real-life adventure, or is life not that simple?
What do you think of Jenny's apparent change-of-heart about pursuingOxford? Why does she seem ready to forgo what she's worked for topursue a fling with a much older man (who may, in fact, not be exactlywho she thinks he is)?
Movie Details
- In theaters: October 9, 2009
- On DVD or streaming: March 30, 2010
- Cast: Alfred Molina , Carey Mulligan , Peter Sarsgaard , Rosamund Pike
- Director: Lone Scherfig
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 95 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: mature thematic material involving sexual content, and for smoking
- Last updated: July 7, 2022
Inclusion information powered by
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Drama Movies That Tug at the Heartstrings
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate