Questions on 'An Education'

1. What kind of Britain is represented? How does it compare to the Britain represented in Passport to Pimlico?

The Britain that is represented in An Education is different to the one in Passport of Pimlico as all of the characters are upper or middle class, where as in Passport to Pimplico they are all working class. Also there is a difference in the area in which they live such as in 'An Education' they live in a simple middle class estate whereas in Pimlico it is lower class London settlement.

2. Describe the character of Jenny? How far do you think she is a typical British teenager? What might be different about her, if anything?

 Jenny does not know what she wants because she has been in her own world in her education, and the moment there is a change to her life she decides to go with it and forget her education. A way that she is similar to British is that she wants to go out and enjoy life before she doesn't have enough time too.

3. What impression does the film give of Britain if you are a woman? Describe Helen, Jenny's Mother, Jenny's teacher and Jenny in terms of representations of women.

We gain very different impressions of women within the film. Helen for instance is a friendly and slow person who is treated like an idiot. Jenny's mother is a house wife, who doesnt have much say. Jenny's teacher is an academic independent woman. Jenny is different stands up for herself which is different to Helen and her mother.

4. What representation of British women do they give and can you think of any contemporary examples of similar women in film?
 The women in the film are shown as smart women although they cannot become more successful than men in their lives. This is portrayed through Jennys mother and fathers relationship where although her mother is seen as just a housewife with no real ambitions to amount to anything she is easily able to persuade Jennys father, like when Jenny asks to go to France with David. Jennys teacher is clearly an intelligent person but is described as 'dead' by Jenny who is breaking boundaries and wanting a better life than women have in this time period.