The Duchess
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Movie Reviews of The Duchess
Movie Review: Life in a gilded cage
Summary: 5 Stars
Having been a long-time fan of period dramas, I was eagerly anticipating the release of The Duchess on DVD [having had no time to go to the cinema], and watched it last night. I must say I was very impressed at the production quality of the movie and the overall acting caliber of the actors.
Though the movie is based on a biography, Amanda Foreman's "Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire", my review is based on just the movie for I have yet to read the book. The movie basically portrays the life of Georgiana [Keira Knightley in one of her best roles to date], an 18th century aristocrat who at a very young age, not quite 18, is married off by her ambitious mother [a suitably icy performance by Charlotte Rampling] to
the Duke of Devonshire, William Cavendish [Ralph Fiennes in a remarkably controlled performance]. Though Georgiana's mother and the Duke enter into the marriage contract with the understanding that Georgiana's main role would be to provide William with a male heir, the girl herself naively believes [and is helped along by her calculating mother] that the Duke loves her.
Georgiana's illusion of a marriage based on love is abruptly torn to shreds when she arrives at the Duke's palatial home - her 'induction' into the carnal aspects of marriage leave her feeling cold and unfulfilled, the Duke turns out to be a man who is emotionally distant and not given to sentimentality, and worst of all, he is also an adulterous cad, having affairs with lowly maids [right under Georgiana's nose] and even upper class ladies, one of whom is Georgiana's supposed best friend, Lady Bess Foster [Hayley Atwell].
The menage a trois between the Duke, Duchess and Bess makes for compelling viewing in and of itself - though Georgiana insists Bess is thrown out of their home [Georgiana had initially asked Bess to live with them due to Bess' impoverished circumstances], the Duke refuses, and this gives rise to a very awkward living situation. The silent dining, the visitations by Bess' three sons [of whom she was initially denied access to by her estranged husband], and Georgiana's hurt at witnessing true affection between Bess and the Duke when she herself is deprived of love is heartrending to watch.
Georgiana however, does find love - with Charles Grey [Dominic Cooper] who is a fast-rising politician. Their love is mutual and Georgiana finally finds in Charles a man who truly loves her for who she is.It was such a joy to witness their intimate scenes [not just the sexual part of it] for in these scenes, we truly see Georgiana come alive and her face is filled with the radiance of a woman fulfilled.
The story of the Duchess of Devonshire is ultimately the story of a woman who lives in a gilded cage - her wealth doesn't shield her from the other pitfalls of life, namely of a loveless marriage and the confines her position places her in. Even in finding true love, she realises there is a high price to pay for dalliances, especially if one is a woman. In one of her confrontations with the Duke, Georgiana asks "Why can't I have what you and Bess have?" and this is a stark reminder that life as a woman back then was a life of repression and submissiveness.
I felt the main actors did a fine job in their performances. Keira Knightley shines as the unhappy Duchess who goes from a carefree young girl in the opening scene to a fashion icon whose unhappy marriage becomes fodder for gossips and even plays, and who ultimately, in utter resignation, comes to accept the confines of her position and the practical realities of her marriage. Ralph Fiennes is simply amazing as the Duke, a man who is so emotionally-restrained, he comes across as ruthless and cruel, though he does reveal a capacity for empathy in some scenes. He is merely a product of his times and a man bound to duty more than anything else.
All in all, "The Duchess" is an emotionally-wrenching human drama that will appeal to fans of period movies. It is filled with sumptuous costumes, lush depictions of the English countryside and a haunting score. Highly recommended!
Movie Review: The gilded cage of gender roles
Summary: 5 Stars
The Duchess is a visually beautiful but very dark film. The story takes place from 1774 to the mid-1780s in England. The lush, stylish costumes and rich, elegant interiors were beautifully photographed and reinforced the message that there is often far more than meets the eye, for Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, lead a sad and confined life even though she was married to one of England's most wealthy men. Keira Knightly is excellent as this naive 17 year old girl who is married to an emotionally distant, cold, privileged man. Ralph Fiennes plays the part of William Cavendish, the 5th Duke of Devonshire, in a performance that is frightening in its chilly control. The Duke is disinterested in his young wife except as one who will bear him an heir. He cheats on her to meet his sexual needs and is totally inadequate to meet her emotional needs.
Charlotte Rampling plays Georgiana's mother, an ambitious woman who arranges the marriage of her daughter to the Duke and continually advises Georgiana to be patient and understanding even when the Duke has affairs with housemaids and brings an illegitimate daughter, Charlotte, into the home for Georgiana to rear. Georgiana has two daughters and several miscarriages, so by the time she and the Duke have been married for 7 years, she is seeking a more affection and emotional response whereas he has grown ever more cruel since his expectations for a son have been thwarted. Georgiana befriends Lady Bes Foster and moves Bess into her home only to find that Bess becomes the Duke's new mistress. Bess uses the power of the Duke to obtain her children from her estranged husband. Bess is manipulative and realistic but not without compassion and often comes to Georgiana's aid as the dark story unfolds. Georgiana eventually does have a son and is given a handsome sum of money for her own discretion. The pressure on Georgiana is now decreased for she has met the Duke's expectations.
Georgiana eventually has an affair with Charles Grey, played well by Dominic Cooper. This young politician impregnates Georgiana and we get to see how gender differences impact the lives of women. Whereas the Duke was able to bring his illegitimate child into the home, Georgiana was forced to turn her illegitimate child, Eliza, to the family of her former lover.
Eventually Georgiana is able to develop the distant, cool, soul blunting and spirit numbing sense of defeat that allows her to accept gross injustice and become a realist about the powers that society gives men and the powers that are denied women. The film will leave you feeling sad for the confines that we place upon ourselves and others.
Movie Review: Knightly Should Win the Oscar for This One!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Let me first state that I was not a huge Kiera Knightly fan, mainly because I can literally hear the sound of teen girls around the world sticking their fingers down their throats to lose their dinners everytime her bony body is called "sexy" while lovely healthy curvy women like Kate Winslet are refered to as be "zaftig" or "Rubenesque", but Kiera has won me over with this performance. In fact, I would say that this is the most emotionally charged film of the previous year, and possibly the best performance (and yes, I have seen the over hyped "Dark Knight". I wasn't thrilled).
Knightly actually looks healthy, glowing, and absolutely radiant in the role of Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire whose social climbing mother marries her off to a much older, emotional cold Duke played by Ralph Fiennes (who is, as he is in all of his roles, absolutely brillant). Georgiana weds before the age of 18 to a man she barely knows and clearly does not love, but she tries to be a good wife and mother, even going as far as to raise the Duke's illegitimate daughter as her own. She becomes a major star in the social scene of the time, with her unique style, wit, and beauty, and seems content to live separate lives with the Duke though still residing under one roof. All of this changes when the Duke chooses her best and only friend as his mistress and forces Georgiana to live with her as well. Georgiana then turns to her childhood sweetheart and falls deeply in love for the first time in her life. Of course, society being what it was (and is), the Duke does not allow her to keep her lover and forces her to make a heartbreaking choice between the love of her life and her children. This story is made all the more poignant knowing that her descendant the Princess of Wales would have to face a similar choice in our modern era of supposed equality.
Some reviewers have said that the values and standards of the time will be seem alien to modern viewers. I greatly disagree. It has only in very recent years become the norm for women to choose their own mates based (hopefully) on love and not face becoming a complete outcaste if they divorce their husbands. In fact, in much of the Muslim world, arranged marriages are still the norm, and even in the West amongst certain religious groups (conservative Catholics being the main one), women are often trapped in loveless or even abusive marriages because divorce is such a taboo. We all know a woman who is "sticking it out" for the sake of her children, and I think that we all can relate to Georgiana's plight. This film will stir the depths of your soul and is literally a masterpiece. Brava Ms. Knightly!
Movie Review: Epic Period Film with Excellent Acting
Summary: 5 Stars
For those who enjoy epic period films with gorgeous costumes, original and beautiful set designs, and excellent acting to boot, then "The Duchess" is a movie you should not miss.
Set in England during the French and American Revolutions and the English Enlightenment, these events provide a formative backdrop to the movie's primary plot. Based on Amanda Foreman's award winning biography, "Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire," the film documents the tragic story of the beautiful, intelligent, strong-willed aristocrat who formed a popular "salon," which included the brightest literary & political figures of her day. She was also an active political campaigner for the Whig Party at a time when women's suffrage was well over a century away. Born Georgiana Spencer, the Duchess was an ancestor of the late Princess Diana, who was born Diana Spencer. Althorpe was the ancestral home of both women.
At age sixteen, Georgiana married the much older William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire, in 1774. Awed by her new husband, the romantic teen bride had high hopes that her arranged marriage would succeed...or at least provide an amiable relationship. Unfortunately, she couldn't have been more wrong. The aloof, emotionally cold, coarse Duke was a notorious womanizer who wanted a male heir from his Duchess and nothing else. Cavendish did love his dogs, however. Bah!! He became more and more aloof and abusive to his young wife as she provided him with daughter after daughter and two stillborn sons. She even took in his illegitimate daughter and raised her as her own to gain his favor and some kindness, to no avail.
Her best and only real friend, Bess, Lady Elizabeth Foster, (Hayley Atwell), betrays her, and Georgiana's home life becomes more and more like a prison with herself the only inmate. She does find love outside her marriage, but this forbidden relationship is soon nipped in the bud as the Duke threatens his wife with dire consequences if she continues the affair.
Filled with illicit romance, betrayal, real historical events and characters, along with impeccable acting from Keira Knightly as Georgiana, Ralph Fiennes in an extremely strong & complex performance as Devonshire, and Charlotte Rampling as Georgiana's mother, I found this film to be highly entertaining and educational. I also love English history which added to my enjoyment.
Jana Perskie
Movie Review: Love and Betrayal with a classic setting
Summary: 5 Stars
The movie starts by claiming to be based on a true story. My history sucks so I'm not sure if it is or it isn't, but it's still an excellent film. Reviewer Terrance Allen called it a "Costume Drama", and his words are to the point and true. 'The Duchess' is a visual and audio array pleasing to the senses.
The year is 1774. Georgiana (Keira Knightly - King Arthur, Pirates Of The Caribbean) is to marry William, the Duke Of Devonshire (Ralph Fiennes). Lady Spencer (Charlotte Rampling - Swimming Pool) is excited to give her daughter away to the Duke, though she knows the only reason the Duke is marrying her daughter is to produce an heir to his title.
Charles Grey (Dominic Cooper) is a young, up and coming society male. He's to go to college and he studies to become a politician. Though they met before her marriage, Georgiana takes an interest in Charles because her passions are politics and gambling. As her marriage decays, especially after inviting her friend Elizabeth "Bess" Foster who betrays her friendship by striking up an affair with the Duke, Georgiana finds herself even more drawn to young Grey.
The music and photography are stunning; the costume design, sets, and visuals are spectacular. I'm not fond of Ralph Fiennes, but I find him very appropriate in the role of the Duke. His acting was better than it's ever been. Georgiana is saucy and intelligent, the scriptwriter dialogue is well done and makes for great characters that you find yourself involved with. On a funny note, all this talk about having sons during the era is quite humorous in today's world, where we know that the sex of the child is determined by the sperm of the father. In the movie's era, though, it was the woman who was blamed for the birth of daughters.
While a beautiful movie, it's a sad tale. The position of women in that era was so restricted that they were helplessly dependent on men. Georgiana's trials are heartrending, and her husband is a cold man incapable of seeing women as anything more than an object he owns. I loved this film, the beauty of it and the subject of material. While the film claims to be based on a true story, I'm not historically competent enough to judge if it is or isn't. Still, it's a magnificent film, one that you shouldn't miss if you like dramas of the era. Enjoy!