---
title: "An Education"
year: 2009
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/an-education"
fi1m_id: "an-education"
imdb_id: "tt1174732"
tmdb_id: 24684
wikidata_id: "Q482436"
fi1m_score: 82
critics_score: 80
critics_reviews: 10
published: "2026-09-15"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:32.013534+00:00"
region: "US"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# An Education (2009)

Directed by Lone Scherfig · 1h 40m · MPA PG-13 · Drama, Romance

## Identity

An Education

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/an-education
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** an-education
- **IMDb ID:** tt1174732
- **TMDB ID:** 24684
- **Wikidata ID:** Q482436
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1174732/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/24684, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q482436

**Fi1m score: 82** · Critics 80 from 10 reviews

*In a sentence:* The adults are so pleased with themselves that we begin to miss school

> Carey Mulligan makes this coming-of-age drama funny, painful and worth an evening. Lone Scherfig understands a schoolgirl’s impatience with the life planned for her, even when Nick Hornby’s screenplay gives the surrounding adults less room to surprise us.

## Synopsis

In early 1960s Britain, schoolgirl Jenny Mellor (Carey Mulligan) wants an adult life that seems far removed from her suburban surroundings. Her academic ambitions face a rival when she meets David Goldman (Peter Sarsgaard), an older man whose sophisticated lifestyle offers experiences she cannot find at school. Jenny is drawn to the freedom he appears to represent, and begins to weigh her education against the attractions of his company. Around her, adults have their own ideas about what she ought to want. Her growing impatience makes the prospect of stepping outside their expectations harder to resist.

## Review

*An Education* is a sharp, affecting coming-of-age drama with a lead performance that makes its familiar story worth telling again. Lone Scherfig understands the particular impatience of a bright schoolgirl who suspects that working hard will merely postpone the life she wants. Jenny Mellor, played by Carey Mulligan, finds an apparent shortcut in David Goldman, the older man played by Peter Sarsgaard. We recommend it warmly, though the writing is less subtle away from the central couple.

Mulligan is especially good at showing how much Jenny enjoys being treated as interesting. Her confidence can look practised, yet the wit is quick enough that we understand why she expects adults to keep up. Her attraction to David extends beyond romance: he appears to offer experiences that academic success keeps postponing. There is vanity here, and impatience, but Mulligan never makes those recognisable teenage habits seem like grounds for punishment.

Sarsgaard gives David enough charm for that attraction to be credible. He also makes the difference in their experience difficult to ignore, even when the conversation is easy. We felt uneasy watching Jenny take his interest as proof that she is ready for adult life. Hornby’s writing gets its sharpest comedy from the confidence of adults, and Scherfig allows us to laugh without pretending that the schoolgirl and the older man have equal freedom to choose.

John de Borman’s cinematography makes the world Jenny wants to enter look inviting. Andrew McAlpine’s production design makes suburban life feel respectable and limiting, so the attraction of going elsewhere needs little explanation. The early 1960s setting matters because the choices available to Jenny seem narrow, and sophistication can therefore look more liberating than it deserves to. We understand the temptation even while we can see the value of the education she is considering abandoning.

Barney Pilling’s editing keeps the comedy moving without cutting short our opportunities to watch Jenny thinking. At 100 minutes, the film has room for conversation without losing the urgency of her desire to get on with living. Paul Englishby’s score suits Scherfig’s light touch, though its agreeableness sometimes contributes to a feeling that the material has been made too comfortable. The performances supply some of the awkwardness that the polished presentation smooths away.

The weakness is Hornby’s tendency to arrange the supporting characters around an easily grasped lesson. Alfred Molina and Olivia Williams bring enough individuality to suggest lives beyond Jenny’s immediate concerns, but some of the smaller parts remain thin. This is a familiar problem in coming-of-age dramas: the adults are there to be assessed while the young person gets to change. Scherfig’s generosity towards the cast helps, but it cannot give every character the complexity that Mulligan finds in Jenny.

Coming-of-age films often congratulate us for spotting the mistakes their young characters cannot yet recognise. Scherfig largely avoids that easy advantage by letting Jenny’s wish for a larger life remain reasonable. Mulligan makes the wish urgent enough that a familiar story still has something to offer. Watch it for her, preferably with someone who remembers being in a hurry to grow up.

*Fi1m score 82, published 15 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics respond warmly to An Education, with praise centred on Carey Mulligan’s performance as a schoolgirl impatient for adult life. The reviews repeatedly single out her wit, vulnerability and restraint, alongside a supporting cast that gives the comedy its human detail. Lone Scherfig’s direction is widely admired for its light touch and attention to class and generational tensions. For many critics, the humour makes the painful material more affecting without brushing it aside.

Reservations centre on the screenplay, though their severity varies considerably. Time Out finds that the adaptation softens the memoir’s sharper edges, while Empire enjoys the charm but considers the film slight. Paste offers a stronger dissent, arguing that predictable plotting and flattened characters undermine the lead performances. Den of Geek, by contrast, finds subversive depth beneath the cheerful surface: the main disagreement is over how far the film challenges its familiar coming-of-age framework.

## Straight answers

**Is An Education worth watching?**

*An Education* is worth watching for anyone who enjoys a coming-of-age drama carried by a strong lead performance, and we scored it 82. Carey Mulligan makes Jenny Mellor's impatience with the life planned for her funny and painful, and Lone Scherfig never treats that impatience as grounds for punishment. The supporting adults are written more thinly than she deserves.

**How long is An Education, and what is it rated?**

*An Education* runs 1h 40m and is rated PG-13 by the MPA in the US. It is a drama and romance film.

**Where can I watch An Education in the US?**

*An Education* is streaming on Amazon Prime Video in the US, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from $3.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is An Education, and is it suitable for children?**

*An Education* is a 12A drama with no violence to speak of, and nothing in it is frightening. What may unsettle is the relationship itself: a schoolgirl drawn to an older man whose charm makes the difference in their experience hard to ignore, and we felt uneasy watching it. It suits teenagers and adults rather than younger children.

**How does An Education compare to Ghost World?**

*An Education* is the warmer and more polished of the two, while [*Ghost World*](https://film.one/film/ghost-world) is the sharper and more uncomfortable. Both follow clever young women whose jokes make adulthood look worse, but Scherfig lets Jenny's wish for a larger life stay reasonable, where Zwigoff refuses to excuse his heroine's cruelty. Choose Scherfig for a lead performance you can root for, Zwigoff for loneliness that hurts.

**What should I watch after An Education?**

After *An Education*, try [*Ghost World*](https://film.one/film/ghost-world) (2001, Fi1m 84): Sharp young women confront adulthood, with jokes that make the disappointment worse. Then [*The Souvenir*](https://film.one/film/the-souvenir) (2019, Fi1m 84): A young woman’s appetite for experience complicates an unequal, quietly troubling relationship.

### Reviews we read (18)

- **Sight and Sound**, Kate Stables (85/100, inferred): Praises the film's crisp direction by Lone Scherfig and its focus on a teenage girl's hunger for adult life and experiences beyond peer approval or romance. Highlights the nuanced handling of class, sexual politics and the central performance by Carey Mulligan. [Read](http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/5161)
- **Slant Magazine**, Ryan Stewart (80/100, inferred): Mulligan gives an understated, beautiful performance as the precocious teen; the film succeeds on its emotional terms despite some conventional plotting, highlighting the heroine's disillusionment with sophisticated but flawed adults. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/an-education/)
- **Time Out**, Dave Calhoun (4/5): Calls it an accessible comedy romance that captures suburban life and generational shifts through strong performances, especially by Mulligan and the supporting cast. Notes that the script softens some edgier elements of the source memoir. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/an-education)
- **Screen Daily** (75/100, inferred): Highlights the lively period drama's strong cast and newcomer Mulligan's memorable performance as a girl drawn to a con-man's glamorous lifestyle over academic ambitions. Notes the film's old-fashioned tale of temptation and its potential for art-house success. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/features/an-education/4042689.article)
- **Empire**, Dan Jolin: The critic finds the film decent but unremarkable overall, praising its easy charm and satisfying story while noting it feels somewhat slight. They single out Carey Mulligan's central performance as the standout element that elevates the picture. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/education-review/)
- **Evening Standard**: The critic praises the film as a lovely, sensitive depiction of early 1960s Britain and a young woman's coming of age, highlighting its measured charm and the way it captures the era's values. They single out the strong performances, especially Carey Mulligan's, and the precise direction. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/sex-and-the-sixties-in-an-education-7417283.html)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan: The film shows an unerring instinct for human nature and its foibles, presenting nuanced pleasures in the story of a schoolgirl's relationship with an older man. It praises the keenly observed direction and the lead performance. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jan-20-et-sherfig20-story.html)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw: The film is a sad, painful comedy that is extremely funny despite its subject matter. Peter Bradshaw singles out Carey Mulligan's wonderful performance as the vulnerable schoolgirl for particular praise. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/oct/29/an-education-review)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**: Mulligan delivers a star-making performance as the schoolgirl swept up by an older man; the film is a smart, moving coming-of-age story with a fine cast and strong script. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/education-film-review-92781/)
- **The New York Times**, A.O. Scott: The film is a sprightly and slippery adaptation of Lynn Barber's memoir that balances comic tone with the story of a young woman's seduction by an older man. It singles out Carey Mulligan's preternatural wit and the delicate handling of the predatory elements. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/09/movies/09education.html)
- **The Times**, Toby Young: An Education is a wonderful, life-affirming picture that restores faith in cinema and deserves all the prizes it will win. Toby Young highlights the strong central performance from Carey Mulligan and the film's blend of comedy and humanity. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/an-education-kj8f8xtfzpt)
- **Den of Geek**, Michael Leader (5/5): The critic describes the film as sweet, engrossing, and subversive, highlighting its focus on the protagonist's perspective and the theme of education versus life experience. Praises the depth beneath its perky surface and the subjective viewing experience. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/an-education-dvd-review/)
- **Collider**, Steven Weintraub (90/100, inferred): The critic raves that the film is pitch-perfect and entertaining from start to finish, calling it a standout coming-of-age story. They single out Carey Mulligan's outstanding performance as Jenny for particular praise. [Read](https://collider.com/an-education-sundance-review/)
- **Eye for Film**, Amber Wilkinson (85/100, inferred): The material is spectacularly well handled with Hornby's script mixing comedy and emotional weight and Scherfig directing with a light touch. Mulligan gives a terrific performance and Sarsgaard strikes a careful balance in his role, though some subsidiary characters feel flat. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/an-education-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson)
- **The Playlist**, Oliver Lyttelton (85/100, inferred): It is a stylish, moving and deeply pleasurable coming-of-age film that matches high expectations, with an impeccably good lead performance from Mulligan and strong direction from Scherfig. The script lets characters speak for themselves in an oppressive 1960s setting. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/lff-09-education-and-bluebeard-20091026/)
- **Digital Spy**, Stella Papamichael (80/100, inferred): The review commends Carey Mulligan's stunning debut as the precocious Jenny and Lone Scherfig's gentle handling of complex dynamics in the story of a teenage girl's awakening. It notes the film's witty portrayal and memorable study of its lead character beyond stereotypes. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a183305/an-education/)
- **Paste**, Robert Davis (45/100, inferred): The critic finds the film undermined by its screenplay, which telegraphs plot points and flattens characters instead of trusting its strong cast. They praise the lead performances by Carey Mulligan and Peter Sarsgaard but fault the conventional story and tidy resolution. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/alfred-molina/an-education)
- **HeyUGuys**, Jon Lyus (3): The film is a surprise hit and possibly the best British film of the year thanks to strong performances, especially Carey Mulligan's, and Nick Hornby's outstanding script. Scherfig's direction creates a flawless world and elicits powerful work from the cast. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/bfi-lff-review-an-education/)

## Details

- **Director:** Lone Scherfig
- **Director:** Lone Scherfig
- **Screenplay:** Nick Hornby
- **Cinematography:** John de Borman
- **Editor:** Barney Pilling
- **Music:** Paul Englishby
- **Production design:** Andrew McAlpine
- **Costume design:** Odile Dicks-Mireaux
- **Producer:** Amanda Posey, Finola Dwyer
- **Cast:** Carey Mulligan as Jenny Mellor; Peter Sarsgaard as David Goldman; Dominic Cooper as Danny; Rosamund Pike as Helen; Olivia Williams as Miss Stubbs; Alfred Molina as Jack Mellor; Cara Seymour as Majorie; Sally Hawkins as Sarah Goldman
- **Runtime:** 1h 40m
- **Certificate (MPA):** PG-13
- **Release (the US):** 30 October 2009
- **Genres:** Drama, Romance
- **Also in:** [Best Picture winners](https://film.one/collections/oscar-best-picture.md) (Nominee, 2009); [BAFTA Best Film winners](https://film.one/collections/bafta-best-film.md) (Nominee, 2009)
- **Budget:** $10 million
- **Box office:** $26 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRbp-dd1QvM

## Where to watch in the US

- Amazon Prime Video: add-on
- Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $4.99, hd

*Checked 2026-09-15.*

Also available in: AT, BR, CA, DE, ES, FR, IN, IT, JP, MX, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Academy Awards 2010: Best Actress (nominated); Best Picture (nominated); Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (nominated)
- European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film 2010: European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film (nominated)
- Sundance Film Festival - Audience Award – Best Foreign Feature Film 2009: Sundance Film Festival - Audience Award – Best Foreign Feature Film (won)

## If you liked this

- *The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie* (1969): Schoolgirls, adult authority and the danger of mistaking confidence for wisdom.
- *Ghost World* (2001), Fi1m 84: Sharp young women confront adulthood, with jokes that make the disappointment worse. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/ghost-world.md)
- *The Souvenir* (2019), Fi1m 84: A young woman’s appetite for experience complicates an unequal, quietly troubling relationship. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-souvenir.md)
- *Girlhood* (2014): Girls test the freedoms and loyalties available beyond school and home.
- *A Swedish Love Story* (1970): Teenage attraction observed closely, with adults supplying plenty of reasons for caution.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/an-education