Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Family movie night? There's an app for that

Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.

Get the app
Parents' Guide to

An Education

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Intelligent period drama tackles mature teen topics.

Movie PG-13 2009 95 minutes
An Education Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 16+

Based on 2 parent reviews

wonder dove
wonder dove Adult
September 22, 2012
age 15+

Wonderful film!!

I fell in love with this movie the first time I saw it. Carey Mulligan's character Jenny is so likeable and sweet, trying to do what she thinks is right at the ripe age of becoming a woman. So many challenges, peer pressure and lessons she goes through before discovering her destiny. There is some iffy content, Jenny is 16 and sleeps with a man in his mid-30s. No real sex scenes (just off-screen) and some talk about losing her virginity to a banana. She takes off her shirt for a man but there's no nudity. Some sweet kissing. Jenny and her friends smoke french cigarettes in one scene. There is some social drinking. No violence except for some loud arguing. Excellent film with a great role model and good messages!
T F.
T F. Adult
February 5, 2010
age 17+

Only for adults and maybe older teens

This is a disturbing movie about teen choices and disillusionment. I don't want to give away the movie, so I won't say much here. It is definitely not subject matter for young teens. At least 17+ is what I would feel comfortable with. Lots of hard lessons learned in the movie. The acting is first rate. Carrie Mulligan is absolutely Oscar worthy in this movie -- very gifted actress.
See all 2 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (10 ):

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

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.

See all recommended movie lists

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