IMDb 7.2 2009 HD

An Education

An Education

2009
Drama Romance
100 min PG-13 USA
6.946 / 10
7.2 IMDB

Despite her sheltered upbringing, Jenny is a teen with a bright future; she's smart, pretty, and has aspirations of attending Oxford University. When David, a charming but much…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Lone Scherfig / Caroline O'Reilly / Joe Geary
Starring
Carey Mulligan / Peter Sarsgaard / Dominic Cooper / Rosamund Pike / Olivia Williams / Alfred Molina / Cara Seymour / Sally Hawkins

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

compelling mature charming thought-provoking sophisticated nuanced poignant stylish illuminating bittersweet engaging astute

Reviews

S
Seraphina Chen
May 1, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

An Education offers a sophisticated and understated examination of burgeoning womanhood and the seductive power of experience. Carey Mulligan’s portrayal of Jenny is the film's undeniable anchor, capturing her intelligence, naivety, and burgeoning independence with remarkable skill. The…

M
Marcus Thorne
May 1, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

While An Education boasts a strong central performance from Carey Mulligan and an undeniable sense of period style, its narrative momentum occasionally falters. The initial charm of David's world is compelling, but the subsequent descent into moral compromise…

I
Isabelle Dubois
May 1, 2026
5.0 / 5
5.0

This is a triumph of subtle storytelling and superb acting. An Education is a rare gem that articulates the complexities of youthful desire and intellectual awakening with grace and precision. Carey Mulligan delivers a star-making turn, embodying Jenny's…

A
Arthur Pendelton
May 1, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

An Education is a smart, stylish drama that offers a refreshing perspective on the coming-of-age narrative. Peter Sarsgaard is perfectly cast as the charismatic older man who sweeps Jenny off her feet, while Mulligan grounds the film with…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 1, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

Carey Mulligan shines as Jenny, a bright spark navigating the deceptive allure of a more worldly existence in this beautifully crafted period piece. The film masterfully captures the intoxicating thrill of newfound independence, juxtaposed with the stark realities…

FAQs

An Education is significant for its insightful portrayal of a pivotal era in British social history and its examination of female ambition. It captured the zeitgeist of changing attitudes towards education and women's roles, while also offering a timeless story about the intoxicating nature of experience and the difficult lessons learned in navigating adulthood. Carey Mulligan's performance garnered widespread acclaim.