by Ellen Cameron
Staff Writer
“This is so awkward!” My friend whispered to me in the back of the theater as we watched An Education. And no, it wasn’t a couple awkwardly making out in front of us; no, the movie itself was exceedingly awkward.
An Education may be one of the most awkward movies I have ever seen. However, that being said, it may also be one of the best (which may say something about my tastes or the number of movies I have seen).
But let me reiterate before I extol its virtues: it is awkward. It contains a proliferation of awkward moments, is marketed to an awkward age group and watching it with most other people would be awkward. And yet, like the awkward ugly duckling, it becomes something so much more.
If you haven’t seen the trailer (and you probably have not—most people I’ve spoken to haven’t even heard of it,) let me summarize for you: An Education is the story of Jenny, a teenage girl in a British prep school preparing for Oxford. Everything she does is in preparation for Oxford and is typically teenager, from her—awkward!—dalliance with a cute fellow youth orchestra member to her arguments with her parents about her musical choices.
Until, one day, it isn’t all about Oxford. Not for her, at least.
Jenny is gradually seduced into the world of opulence and culture by David, an older man with wealth and class. I don’t think I have to give away very much to say it doesn’t end well; it can’t, not if it were to be a notable movie. Otherwise the movie would be just another version of Cinderella. Perhaps it is, but in this Cinderella, the Prince isn’t so charming and is more real and the princess keeps her feet more firmly on the ground.
One of the many things I like about the movie is that it was so vindicating in that way. Another thing I like is that it entertained while still telling a story that isn’t all about hype and Hollywood expectations. It gives me something to think about that is more than just “oh, wasn’t that one thing funny” or something equally surface-level. It does a nice job of balancing immediate entertainment value with mental chew toys.
However, it all comes back to the awkwardness. The movie is more targeted to adults but it has a better value for teens, which is a bit awkward. Meanwhile, it awkwardly straddles the line between independent and mainstream movies. Then there is the fact this relationship between this young girl and far older man (which would be illegal in Texas) is awkward to watch; it’s not the kind of movie I’d go with my mother to see, at all.
There are parts that make me cringe with awkwardness. Then there are parts which make me laugh (awkwardly, of course) because of the strange sense of humor. I was the only one in the theater laughing, which perhaps says something about my sense of humor.
It is not a chick flick or a date movie, nor is it loaded with big name celebrities (in fact, if you are like me, you probably will not recognize a single name despite their wonderful acting.) Moreover, it has only grossed $15 million and may be hard to find outside of the Angelika. Yet, its three Oscar nominations, two Sundance Film Festival wins and medley of other awards speak for the movie: it is worth tracking down.
The movie may be exceedingly awkward, but isn’t life? Embrace the awkward and watch the film.
