Lone Scherfig

I've loved the work of Danish director Lone Scherfig since seeing Italian for Beginners several years ago. Since then I've gone to see her subsequent films when they played at the TIFF and she's always been there to introduce her films and do a Q&A. Italian for Beginners was a wonderful ensemble romantic comedy, set in Denmark, with a motley mix of characters who come together romantically at the end.

Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself, despite it's title, is a very pleasant film, set in Scotland, again about romantic yearning and a man who tries to kill himself and (comically) fails. Trailer.

Just Like Home was the next Scherfig film I saw. It's about the quirky inhabitants of a small Danish town. Some of the actors from Italian for Beginners appear in this cute film.

In her most recent film An Education she has harnessed her full talents in a film that will finally earn her recognition as a top-flight director. Based on Lynn Barber's autobiographical book, An Education is about Jenny, a very smart young woman who is swept off her feet by a suave older man (Peter Sarsgaard) who introduces her to a life of sophistication that she yearns to escape to. She foolishly abandons her previous plans of applying to Oxford and a life of rigorous (and dull) study with uncertain outcomes. Jazz clubs, fancy restaurants and trips to Paris seem so much more exciting to a young woman in 1960's England. But her education comes when she discovers that such a life has its price, esp. when it's built on a fraud. A wonderfully put together film, with terrific performances by the cast (led by the radiant and effervescent Carey Mulligan as Jenny), lovely period design and score (I have the soundtrack CD and am enjoying it much). The film has seen very positive reviews, and one anticipates a smattering of nominations come award season.

I'm quite happy that Lone Scherfig will finally get the recognition she deserves. Here's a video interview with her where she talks about directing An Education.