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Plot, Details & Awards

An Education

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving sexual content, and for smoking.

PG-13 In Theaters 10/9/2009 , 95min.
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Plot & Details

A suburban London teen finds her traditional education replaced by something slightly more sinister when an older, more worldly suitor sweeps her off of her feet while placing her future in jeopardy. London, 1961: 16-year-old Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is smart, attractive, and eager to start her adult life. She's grown tired of the familiar adolescent routine, so when urbane newcomer David (Peter Sarsgaard) appears in town, Jenny senses a rare opportunity to shake things up a bit. Quickly falling under David's spell, the impressionable Jenny begins accompanying her newfound beau to classical concerts, art auctions, crowded pubs, and dinners that stretch into the small hours of the night. But Jenny is brighter than most kids her age, and her parents always dreamt of getting their exceptional daughter into Oxford. These days it seems like she's headed in a different direction -- will David ultimately be her undoing, or the person who helps her finally realize her true potential?
  • MPAA Rating: PG-13
  • Genre(s): Drama
  • Run Time: 95min.
  • Theatrical Release Date: 10/09/2009
  • DVD Release Date: 03/30/2010
  • Distributor(s): Sony Classics
  • Director(s): Lone Scherfig
  • Starring: Peter Sarsgaard , Carey Mulligan , Alfred Molina , Rosamund Pike , Dominic Cooper
  • Themes: Age Disparity Romance,Sexual Awakening,Journey of Self-Discovery,Cons and Scams
  • Tone: Bittersweet,Poignant,Compassionate,Humorous
  • Keywords: playboy,British,Jewish,boyfriend,coming-of-age,con/scam,father,student
  • Country of Origin: USA - Limited (10-09-2009)
  • Language: English

Awards

Academy Awards

Year Award CategoryCast & Crew Result
2009 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Adapted Screenplay Nick Hornby Nominated
2009 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Actress Carey Mulligan Nominated
2009 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Picture Finola Dwyer Nominated
2009 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Picture Amanda Posey Nominated

British Academy of Film and Television Arts

Year Award CategoryCast & Crew Result
2009 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best British Film Nominated
2009 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Actress Carey Mulligan Won
2009 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Adapted Screenplay Nick Hornby Nominated
2009 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Director Lone Scherfig Nominated
2009 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Costume Design Odile Dicks-Mireaux Nominated
2009 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Makeup and Hair Lizzie Yianni Georgiou Nominated
2009 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Supporting Actor Alfred Molina Nominated
2009 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Picture Nominated

Golden Globes

Year Award CategoryCast & Crew Result
2009 Hollywood Foreign Press Association Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama Carey Mulligan Nominated

Toronto International Film Festival

Year Award CategoryCast & Crew Result
2009 Toronto International Film Festival Film Presented Nominated
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