Vanity Fair - 6

This film takes place in the middle of the 19th century, in Europe, and deals with the issues surrounding the society at the time and the social status that was the biggest force at the time. Maybe not all that different than our own times, but easier to see from outside of a culture sometimes than from within. It really challenges the idea of storied living. It points to the intricacies of being in a story as well as trying to be the author and take authority of the story. There are both internal and external forces at work in the story. It turns out that wisdom and folly are found in this tension. The film uses the idea of crisis to show this. It is in the crises that we find out what we are willing to change and what we will refuse to believe. There is always tension when what we believe about the world and what reality really is comes to light. We must face up to the game of life, which really is the only game that matters, and be changed or find a place to stand. It is in this choosing that we can pursue the path of wisdom or folly. In our folly we build idols to unknown gods because it seems to make sense, but when we have to face the tension and the illusion that we have set up, then we are able to live, learn, and hopefully steer our course, be moved by grace, toward a better and more fulfilling storied living.