From the moment we are born, we never stop learning. We learn from our experiences, sometimes correcting our mistakes — and sometimes repeating them. We, poor mortals, can never resist the forbidden fruit. Even when we know it’s wrong, we can’t help but savor a bite. After all, temptation is our greatest weakness.
This week at Erbak Movie Reviews, our film An Education laments the pain of mistakes, regrets, and heartbreaks — yet also whispers a lesson in courage.
When does a person truly grow up? Sixteen-year-old Jenny hasn’t yet adjusted to the hardships of adolescence, the pressure from her parents, or the demands of schoolwork. She can’t seem to meet the perfect balance her parents expect of her. At times, she feels like a ticking bomb ready to explode. Instead of endlessly studying Latin, she’d rather listen to French songs and daydream. She wants to grow up. Is that really too much to ask?
Thinking is so boring… Bored out of her mind with her dull life, Jenny meets a stranger one ordinary day: David. He’s charming, wealthy, sophisticated — and utterly fascinated by her. The age gap between them is striking, but not impossible to overcome. Jenny believes she’s found the love of her life. The gestures are endless: flowers, gifts, beautiful dresses, jewelry… For the first time, she feels alive. Why worry about Oxford, her studies, or her future when David could take care of all that for her?
Parental pressure(!) Jenny’s parents also fall under David’s spell. Twice Jenny’s age, David is seen by them as mature and trustworthy. Once, her father wouldn’t even let her listen to French music — now he’s sending her off to France on holiday, with her boyfriend. For such a modest, traditional family, this was highly unorthodox. But they had been dazzled. Having such a cultured, affluent gentleman interested in their daughter was, in their eyes, a source of pride.
Everything was perfect. Per-fect. Jenny is living her dream in Paris — wearing elegant clothes, dancing in lavish venues, savoring life itself. Paris, after all, is always a good idea. She quits school in a fury, breaks the heart of her beloved teacher Miss Stubbs, and gently deceives her parents. After all, being young and rebellious demanded it.
Waking up from the dream… Slowly, Jenny’s beautiful dream turns into a nightmare. She discovers that David’s work involves fraud — and though she tries to ignore it, the lies keep coming. The man she loved so deeply, the one she trusted with her future, is actually married — with children. The life she thought she was building was nothing more than an illusion. For the first time in her life, Jenny feels completely destroyed — drowning in an ocean of anger, shame, and regret.
A second chance. Jenny decides self-pity is pointless. Her first step is to return to school, but the headmistress refuses her, saying Jenny has set a bad example for the other girls. If she’s no longer a naïve young girl but a woman, she must face her mistakes head-on. So she turns to the one person she still trusts: Miss Stubbs.
She worked, learned, and repeated. Miss Stubbs is furious with her — but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t care. The plan is clear: Jenny will go to Oxford. What follows is a period of intense study. She revises every lesson she’s missed, learns, and repeats — over and over again. She’s a little late, yes, but learning has no age or deadline. This time, she won’t leave her future to chance. And perhaps, more than anyone, she needs a little luck.
Success, even if delayed. No matter the outcome, the courage shining in Jenny’s heart is undeniable. With great humility, she learns from her mistakes, follows her dreams, and refuses to give up on herself.
Enjoy the film.