The History Boys

The History Boys

BBC Two Films

13 October 2006

Historical Comedy, Historical Drama

DVD
C-

One of those movies that's not as witty as it thinks it is.  Nicholas Hytner directed.

An Education

An Education
Sony
18 January 2009
Historical Drama, Romance
DVD
B

Nick Hornby adapted Lynn Barber's memoir of the same name, which is set in London in the early '60s and tells of a teenage girl's education in life through an affair with a charming older man.  The period details feel accurate and, unlike with Edge of Seventeen, I was drawn into the story and liked the characters even when I didn't like their actions.  (Emma Thompson has a gem of a role as the sensible if anti-Semitic headmistress.)  Special shout-out to Molina as the scene-stealing but heart-tugging father of the protagonist.  I almost added "Historical Comedy" as a tag, since the movie is sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, although the film does get heavy at times, yet thankfully never tragic.

Lone Scherfig directed.