Vanity Fair (DVD) 2004 - A Woman's Fight Out

Vanity Fair is a 2004 romantic movie directed by Mira Nair and adapted from William Makepeace Thackeray's novel having the same name. The very contemporary Reese Witherspoon at first seems to hit the wrong note as Becky Sharp, an orphaned girl who rises to the heights of society using her quick wits and feminine wiles.

This movie wraps out the life of a woman who aims to reach the peak position in the London society amidst of all difficulties. Becky Sharp (Reese Witherspoon) is the ambitious daughter of a poor family, who will let nothing stand in her way in her attempt to climb the social ladder. Taking a position as nanny to the children of Sir Pitt Crawley (Bob Hoskins), Becky insinuates her way into the family's favors and into London society, eventually marrying Crawley's eldest son Rawdon (James Purefoy).

Now things start to go out of her hands when Rawdon proves to be a gambler and a drunkard. But Becky wastes no time in approaching the influential Marquess of Steyne (Gabriel Byrne), in the hope that he will help advance her position. Meanwhile, her best friend, Amelia Sedley (Romola Garai), lets true love slip right through her fingers. As war rages on against Napoleon and the French, Sharp continues her ascension, though she's met by naysayers and gossipmongers every step of the way. It's not easy for Becky, who, when circumstances dictate, must become a governess at a remote country house.

Born into the lower class, Can Becky makes her way up through London society circa 1820?