An Education (2008)

Cast: Carey Mulligan, Olivia Williams, Alfred Molina, Cara Seymour, Matthew Beard

This is a story set in the 60s. One day a stranger, a man well into his thirties, driving by stops to give a ride to a schoolgirl stranded in the rain with her cello. They talk and this conversation 16-year old Jenny finds is the most exciting thing that's ever happened to her. With the permission of her parents, he takes her out to see a musical performance. Jenny loves French, can speak Latin, loves art, can talk poetry, and in short is cultured. Both him and his friend/business partner are charmed by her vivacious, giddy open nature.

Jenny does well in school, is quite bright, and her parents including a doting teacher have their expectations set on her going to Oxford for higher education. To do what, Jenny questions. It's a heady feeling for a young girl when a perfect gentleman spoils her like a princess. Graham, a boy her age from her music class who likes her, hasn't got a chance in front of this slick schmoozer. He convinces her parents to whisk her away for a weekend in Oxford where he tells her gullible parents she'll grow connections through him who went to Oxford himself. Following that trip comes another weekend in Paris for her birthday. For all his smoothness, Jenny stands firm about keeping her chastity intact. That prompts a rather serious move on his part.

Silly schoolgirls are always getting seduced by glamorous old men and Jenny though older was none the wiser. There is a nice little moral to the story that there are no shortcuts to the things you want in life.
 
Rating: Five stars.