To be educated is to be...

Educating Rita by Willy Russell (ISBN 0413767906)


A screenplay written by Willy Russell in 1981, 'Educating Rita' summarizes the conflicts that are present in the society in terms of education. In order to fulfil her desire to be an educated person, Rita, a married hairdresser, decided to go to the Open University to study Literature under the tutelage of Dr. Frank Bryant. Rita represents the working class with her outward and direct way of expressing herself, whereas Frank is a representative of the educated class who shows aesthetic qualities and formalities in his appearance and speech.


Comedic effects are very well injected by the writer in the screenplay, with the interplay of words and famous literary works and people. As Rita becomes more 'educated' in a way that she regards literary topics as more important than her home life, Frank, on the other hand, starts to talk and curse like a working class. The clash of cultures and ambitions between Rita and Frank brings the audience to think what is an education, and what makes a person educated. For knowledge from books is important, no less of importance are the life skills that one has to learn as part of the society as a whole.


I will very much suggest the film of the same title directed by Lewis Gilbert in 1983. Though it may be old, be attentive to the dialogues between Rita and Frank as they will definitely make you laugh and think at the same time.


Talking about education and being educated, the book and film reminds me of 'An Education', the 2009 drama based on the memoir of journalist Lynn Barber in which the issue is highlighted as well. Well, until I read the memoir, so much discussion on what education is.