Directed by:
Mira NairCinematography:
Declan QuinnComposer:
Mychael DannaCast:
Reese Witherspoon, Gabriel Byrne, Roger Lloyd Pack, Ruth Sheen, Lillete Dubey, Romola Garai, Tom Sturridge, Rhys Ifans, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Bob Hoskins (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
The daughter of a starving English artist and a French chorus girl, Becky is orphaned at a young age. Even as a child, she yearns for a more glamorous life than her birthright promises. As she leaves Miss Pinkerton's Academy at Chiswick, Becky resolves to conquer English society by any means possible. She deploys all of her wit, guile, and sexuality as she makes her way up into high society during the first quarter of the 19th century. Becky's ascension to the heights of society commences when she gains employment as governess to the daughters of eccentric Sir Pitt Crawley. Becky wins over the children, and the Crawley family's rich spinster Aunt Matilda as well. The rural Hampshire household comes to find her indispensable, and Matilda comes to confide in the bright young woman. But Becky knows that she cannot be a true part of English society until she moves to the city. When Matilda invites her to come live in London, Becky eagerly accepts. There, Becky is reunited with her best friend Amelia Sedley, who-having grown up comfortably--does not share Becky's more brazen ambitions. Hewing close to the family she already knows so well, Becky secretly marries dashing heir Rawdon Crawley but when Matilda discovers their union, she casts the newlyweds out. When Napoleon invades Europe, Rawdon bravely reports to the front lines. Pregnant Becky stands by distraught newlywed Amelia, whose own husband George Osborne is also called to fight. When George does not survive the Battle of Waterloo, Becky's friendship with Amelia is strained beyond repair. Becky is reunited with Rawdon and gives birth to a boy, but, post-war, money and comforts are sparse for the trio. More intent than ever on gaining acceptance into London society and livingwell, Becky finds a patron in the powerful Marquess of Steyne. Steyne's whims enable Becky to realize her dreams, but the ultimate cost may be too high for her. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
Reese Witherspoon
USA
Best movies:
Walk the Line (2005)
Pleasantville (1998)
The Good Lie (2014)
Gabriel Byrne
Ireland
Best movies:
The Usual Suspects (1995)
Enemy of the State (1998)
Dead Man (1995)
Roger Lloyd Pack
UK
Best movies:
Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
Agatha Christie: Poirot (1989) (series)
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989)
Ruth Sheen
UK
Best movies:
Secrets & Lies (1996)
Agatha Christie: Poirot (1989) (series)
A Street Cat Named Bob (2016)
Lillete Dubey
India
Best movies:
Pinjar (2003)
The Lunchbox (2013)
Tomorrow May Never Come (2003)
Romola Garai
Hong Kong
Best movies:
King Lear (2008) (TV movie)
One Life (2023)
Inside I'm Dancing (2004)
Tom Sturridge
UK
Best movies:
The Hollow Crown (2012) (series)
The Boat That Rocked (2009)
Being Julia (2004)
Rhys Ifans
UK
Best movies:
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
The Boat That Rocked (2009)
House of the Dragon (2022) (series)
Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Ireland
Best movies:
Gormenghast (2000) (series)
Michael Collins (1996)
Match Point (2005)
Bob Hoskins
UK
Best movies:
Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982)
Enemy at the Gates (2001)
Brazil (1985)
Douglas Hodge
UK
Best movies:
Joker (2019)
The Way We Live Now (2001) (series)
Maigret (2016) (series)
Geraldine McEwan
UK
Best movies:
Eileen Atkins
UK
Best movies:
Cold Mountain (2003)
Wit (2001) (TV movie)
The Hours (2002)
James Purefoy
UK
Best movies:
The Hollow Crown (2012) (series)
V for Vendetta (2005)
Roots (2016) (series)
Jim Broadbent
UK
Best movies:
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
Guerre et paix (2016) (series)
William Melling
UK
Best movies:
Camilla Rutherford
UK
Best movies:
Gosford Park (2001)
Breathe (2017)
Phantom Thread (2017)
Alexandra Staden
UK
Best movies:
Vanity Fair (2004)
Ten Minutes Older: The Cello (2002)
Bertie and Elizabeth (2002) (TV movie)
Robert Pattinson
UK
Best movies:
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) - a.f.
The King (2019)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Max Bollinger
Soviet Union
Best movies:
The Girl in the Café (2005) (TV movie)
Vanity Fair (2004)
Alexander (2004)