“An Education” is the first screenplay by novelist Nick Hornby (“About a Boy”), and while the story itself—young girl falls for an older man who probably isn’t much good for her—isn’t a new one, neither in cinema nor in real life, the spectacular cinematography and stellar cast make it a must-see. Set in 1960s England, the story centers around Jenny (Carey Mulligan), a beautiful, bright schoolgirl just about to sit for her A-Levels. Adored by her lower middle-class parents, who scrimp and save in order to get her closer to her dream of reading English at Oxford, her life is thoroughly ordinary, made up mostly of chintzy, overstuffed sofas, Latin lessons and cello practice. Jenny longs for a life more glamorous, of listening to French jazz records and smoking cigarettes in cafés, and going to Oxford is how—so she’s been told—she’ll eventually get there.

That is, until she meets David (Peter Sarsgaard), a mysterious, charming man almost twice her age. He lavishes upon her extravagant gifts, theater tickets and spontaneous trips to Paris, and all with the blessing of her usually restrictive parents, who have also been seduced by David’s silver tongue. If there’s something not quite right about him, the usually astute Jenny brushes it off. After all, hasn’t he given her the adventure and glamour she always wanted? Besides, what’s the use of a good education if her future is toil, exams and sad spinsterhood?

There are excellent performances all round in this film. Alfred Molina’s bumbling but well-meaning father will inevitably be eclipsed by the lead performance; hotly tipped for an Oscar nomination, Mulligan plays the ingénue to Sarsgaard’s rake perfectly, with more than a touch—as all the critics are saying—of Audrey Hepburn in her thick brows and huge doe eyes. There are lessons for everyone in “An Education,” and you’d be a fool to play truant.

Sarah Fung

(UK) Directed by Lone Scherfig. Starring Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina. Category IIA, 100 minutes. Opening.