'Educating Rita' an effective, perceptive film
Most students
question the purpose
of their education at
least once during
their college careers
and wonder what it's
all for. "Educating
Rita," now showing at
The Valley River Twin
Cinema, presents some interesting angles
on how education applies to the growth of
one individual.
Rita (Julie Walters) is a lively, young
working-class wife looking for an identity
through education. She enrolls in the
British Open University and, much to her
surprise, finds her tutorial professor. Dr.
Frank Bryant (Michael Caine), a cynical,
disillusioned man. After a somewhat shaky
first meeting, Rita and Frank strike up a
strong and lasting friendship.
Rita's education has begun.
Although Michael Caine is given top bill
ing, the real star is Walters, who steals the
film as the vivacious Rita, a person as
hungry for knowledge as she is bubbling
with life.
She's a woman who isn't content with the
role society has dictated for her, and in her
struggle to find her own identity she must
battle an uncooperative husband, an un
sympathetic father and societal restraints
while holding down a full-time job as a
hairdresser.
Walters portrays Rita's struggle with
power and humor, bringing depth to her
character.
Frank is much her opposite — a well
educated, upper-class professor — but he's
unhappy and unsatisfied with himself and
his students. In Rita he finds a new and
refreshing slant on life. Not only is she bold
enough to say exactly what's on her mind,
but she also possesses the uncanny ability
to decipher problems and get to the root of
the matter.
The two make an odd pair, but their
friendship transcends all differences. The
most enjoyable scenes of the film are the
ones showing them together.
Although it has a slightly suggestive
name, reminiscent of the teenage sex films
of the last few years, “Educating Rita" is a
very intelligent film that has nothing to do
with sex. Rita's education has to do with
literature, society and the decisions she has
to make in life.
Based on the award-winning British play
of the same name and adapted by its
playwright, "Educating Rita" is a particular
ly perceptive film as it brings some of the
implications of education to focus.
The film's fine acting can be traced both
to the stars and to director Lewis Gilbert,
who allows the film to focus on the
characters. Caine and Walters are excellent
together, and the rest of the cast is equally
as good — particularly Rita’s husband Den
ny, played by Malcolm Douglas.
Douglas brings humanity and respect to a
role that could easily have turned into a
caricature. Though he stands in Rita's way,
he's not really a villain, and Douglas's por
trayal brings that into focus.
The film does have a few minor problems.
While the plot is not predictable it isn't all
that surprising. Both director Gilbert and
writer Willy Russell keep the film from
seeming staged, but stage conventions do
creep in.
In a few spots, Lewis is a little heavy with
Photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures
In "Educating Rita," a hairdresser (Julie Walters) struggles to break out of the
working-class mold through education, with some help from a disillusioned
English professor (Michael Caine).
symbolism. The most obvious is a chorus of
church bells after a dramatic revelation
from Rita.
On the whole, however, the film is strong
and effective and the characters are well
portrayed.
Personal and intellectual growth are what
"Educating Rita" is ail about, and these
issues are real enough to any college stu
dent. What Rita finds in education is as im
portant as what she loses, and the final
choices she makes are the same as those we
all have to make.
By Sean Axmaker
UO BOOKSTORE
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