Stanley Kubrick, a filmmaker renowned for his exacting precision and deep thematic exploration, delivered one of his most visually stunning and narratively subtle works with “Barry Lyndon” (1975). Based on William Makepeace Thackeray’s novel The Luck of Barry Lyndon, the film traces the rise and fall of an ambitious Irishman, Redmond Barry, as he navigates the 18th-century European aristocracy. Though “Barry Lyndon” is often overshadowed by Kubrick’s more famous works like “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “A Clockwork Orange,” it stands as an intricate study of human nature, societal ambition, and the consequences of vanity—all wrapped in a visually arresting package, and is my personal favorite of Kubrick’s work.

The plot of “Barry Lyndon” revolves around Redmond Barry, a young man from rural Ireland with dreams of climbing the social ladder. After a series of events—including a duel, a stint in the military, and a marriage...