Vanity Fair (2004)
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An orphaned woman navigates the complexities of high society by using her wits to secure a place among the elite.
The story
In 1800s England, Becky Sharp, the orphaned daughter of a poor painter, finishes her studies and accepts a position as a governess for Sir Pitt Crawley's daughters. Before beginning her new life, she travels to London with her close friend Amelia Sedley and her family. While in the city, Becky initiates a campaign to charm Amelia's wealthy brother, Jos Sedley. However, she faces social hurdles when Amelia's snobbish fiancé, George Osborne, reminds the family that Becky lacks a dowry. Seeking a more advantageous path, Becky eventually takes up her post, navigating the dynamics of the Crawley household while seeking to improve her social standing.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1800s England, Becky Sharp, an orphan, travels to London with Amelia Sedley to find a wealthy husband but is rebuffed by Amelia's fiancé, George Osborne, due to her lack of a dowry. Becky eventually becomes a governess for Sir Pitt Crawley's daughters. She secretly marries his son, Rawdon Crawley, but is expelled by his aunt, Miss Crawley. Meanwhile, George Osborne breaks his engagement to Amelia to marry someone else, leaving Amelia in poverty. During the Napoleonic Wars, Rawdon and Becky are deployed to Belgium; George is killed at Waterloo, and Rawdon survives. Years later, Rawdon falls into debt, and Becky finds patronage with Lord Steyne, who introduces her to high society. After a series of betrayals and secret arrangements, Becky eventually finds herself in Germany. There, she reunites with Amelia and encourages her to accept the love of the loyal William Dobbin. Finally, Becky accepts an invitation from Jos Sedley to move to India to start a new life.
- First release year
- 2004
- Runtime (minutes)
- 141
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Mira Nair
- Writers
- Julian Fellowes · screenplay; Matthew Faulk · screenplay; Mark Skeet · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Reese Witherspoon · Rebecca "Becky" Sharp Crawley; Eileen Atkins · Miss Matilda Crawley; Jim Broadbent · Mr. Osborne; Gabriel Byrne · the Marquess of Steyne; Romola Garai · Amelia Sedley Osborne; Bob Hoskins · Sir Pitt Crawley the Elder; Rhys Ifans · Major William Dobbin; James Purefoy · Colonel Rawdon Crawley
- Genres
- historical drama; romantic drama
- Themes
- social class; ambition; loyalty
- Tone and mood
- genteel; inoffensive; perky
- Setting
- England during the early 1800s
- Premise and plot tags
- historical romance; period drama
- Source material / true-story basis
- William Makepeace Thackeray's 1848 novel Vanity Fair
- Reception
- Critics gave the film mixed reviews, with some praising the scope and wit while others found the adaptation too genteel compared to the source material.
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Lion · Film · 2004 · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was in development for over 10 years.; Reese Witherspoon's pregnancy forced the production to speed up.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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