Inspiration: An Education (2009)



This British coming-of-age drama is one of my favourite films and one of the best roles played by the adorable and talented Carey Mulligan. In 1961 suburban London, Jenny is a 16-year-old schoolgirl who aims for an interesting life. She's bright, pretty and clever. Her life changes after she meets David, a charming, smart, sophisticated and charismatic man over twice her age. Jenny falls in love with him and with his lifestyle - he takes her to fancy clubs, concerts and London's finest restaurants with his classy stylish friends. However, appearances can be deceiving and a tragic heartbreaking awaits, hiding behind the swell world of jazz, art and intellect.
This movie is brilliant (not to mention the wonderful soundtrack!), visually well done with its nostalgic allure, and you know how lovely the early 60's fashion can be! Jenny's flawless hairstyle and dresses - her style changed from a highschool sweetheart to an Audrey Hepburn-like elegance icon - are aesthetically beyond pleasing. 

Their days spent together in Paris were so dreamy and romantic, that I immediately felt like something was going wrong as it was all too perfect to be true. This is a story about teenage priorities, the illusions naive girls have when they fall in love, and which is the right path to take at a certain age. Because most eye-opening lessons are learnt out of school - and one of them is to never neglect a promising future, no matter how tempting fun may seem.