Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Updates:

The Duchess (2008)

Director: Saul Dibb

Time Out rating

Average user rating

60 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

If you’ve seen the posters for ‘The Duchess’, you’ll know that they recall the marital woes of another Spencer, Princess Diana, born two centuries after Georgiana (Keira Knightley), the young noble whose tempestuous marriage in 1774 to William, Duke of Devonshire (Ralph Fiennes) is the subject of this intelligent and beautifully crafted Gainsborough-inspired costume drama from British director Saul Dibb.

Thankfully, the tagline – ‘There were three people in her marriage’ – is as far as the filmmakers are willing to push the analogy, but you can see where they’re coming from: Georgiana is a young, beautiful bride who marries into one of the country’s richest families and suffers domestic misery, while blossoming into a fashion icon and friend of the chattering classes. William is older, colder, a piercer of dreams who’s more loving to his dog than his wife and who openly introduces a mistress (Hayley Atwell) into his household. The parallels are there to play with – at a stretch, you could even pitch Georgiana’s friendship with the playwright Sheridan (Aidan McArdle) against Diana’s later flirtation with the entertainment world – but, thankfully, Dibb and co-writers Jeffrey Hatcher and Anders Thomas Jensen play no such games.

One of the strengths of ‘The Duchess’ is its intimate, unashamed embrace of its story’s here-and-now. We’re not expected to impose twenty-first century ideals of marriage on Georgiana and William, rather to empathise with their situation while considering contemporary ideas of personal freedom. It’s a theme that’s reflected in the Whig element of the story: the couple are seen to be good friends of socialite politician Charles James Fox (a reliably conspiratorial Simon McBurney), who indulges Georgiana’s forthright views on liberty. Of course, this is still costume drama, with all its attendant wigs and frocks and stately camerawork, but Dibb pays as much, if not more, attention to the private stresses of the bedroom as he does to the public rituals of dinners and balls. He’s also helped enormously by a mature, restrained portrayal from Knightley, a masterclass in passive aggression from Fiennes and a performance of tender seduction from Atwell.

Author: Dave Calhoun 2008-09-02 11:07:06

Time Out London Issue 1985, 4-10 Sept

Bookmark

User reviews of this film

Madison said...

Posted on Sep 20 2008 12:16 In 5 years time Dominic Cooper WILL BE the new JAMES BOND. The campaign starts here..

Report as inappropriate
aisha said...

Posted on Sep 19 2008 19:10 I want to watch this film im a great fan of kiera knightly :D xxx

Report as inappropriate
Carina said...

Posted on Sep 14 2008 11:02 Wow, this film must've been good, as I forgot how irritating Keira is - she was made for this film, Ralph Fiennes was fab & I definitely agree with her choice of a lover! Scenery magnificent - as were costumes - this is an engrossing film that makes you forget everything outside of the cinema.

Report as inappropriate
Carol said...

Posted on Sep 13 2008 23:54 Wonderful film.

Report as inappropriate
Tom said...

Posted on Sep 13 2008 13:52 This film clearly hits the right emotional buttons for a number of female viewers, but if you're a chap or already have an understanding of social mores in C.18th England then you will find it dull dull dull I'm afraid.

Report as inappropriate
Elizabeth said...

Posted on Sep 12 2008 23:43 Wonderful film. It was a very dark, honest look at the status of high class women 18th century women, and it showed that even aristocratic women weren't held in very high esteem.
Keira Knightley was brilliant in this. I don't care what her detractors say. This was such a difficult role to have to play - going from a teenager to a wife and mother who is, basically, abused by her husband, having to play so many different emotions, reactions and realizations and she pulled it off brilliantly well. Especially those emotional scenes were heart-wrenching and she expressed them so well with the anguish in her eyes. She was radiant and absolutely believable even through her pain. It is really hard to believe that this girl is only 23. This is the kind of role, that actresses that are older than her would play. To take on such a complex, multifaceted, difficult role in her early twenties and succeed marvelously is quite simply amazing.
Fiennes was fantastic , astonishing as always. His Duke was amazing. He was smart enough to play him as someone trapped in a situation that was caused by society's expectations of him and his title, and he was able to convey that he is suffering as well. Despite what he does to Georgiana, you can't help but feel somewhat sorry for him.
Hayley Atwell was wonderful as well, as the woman who betrays her best friend, even though she wishes she didn't have to do so. She played these conflicting emotions very well.
Over all, a very well made picture. Not your typical 18th century movie, but an actual study of the high class that shows even if you are rich and titled, you can be miserable.

Report as inappropriate
Bex =] said...

Posted on Sep 12 2008 19:54 im 13 and went to see this wiv my best mate and OMGSH....we were lyk....stunned....it was the best movie ever!!it was soo good.

Report as inappropriate
miss yau said...

Posted on Sep 12 2008 00:57 i think THE DUCHESS is one of the best movie of the year. both keria knightley and ralph fiennes are perfoect for the role they played. the contumes are STUNNING !!! i love it ...

Report as inappropriate
Tom Shaw said...

Posted on Sep 11 2008 19:26 I haven't seen this film yet but i'm sure it will be class. Knightley doesn't do shit films. As for Rock n Roller....what a terrible film,honest to god. Snatch and lock stock were AMAZING!!!! Ritchie must have been pissed making thios one.

Report as inappropriate
MILES said...

Posted on Sep 11 2008 14:15 i went to see this with my dad and i loved this movie ,it makes you think and also entertains you at the same time and i think keira looked very sexy and acted extremely well too .

Report as inappropriate
Katrina Brookes said...

Posted on Sep 10 2008 20:00 Keira Knightley has this annoying pinced nose and pursed lips which annoy me and keep reminding me that she's acting. I cry at anything but the bit the film obviously told you to be pained by did nothing for me and her lover was a geek! I absolutely however loved the performances given by Ralph Fiennes and Hayley Atwell, fabulous. Expected more depth from Saul Dibb. Should have been grittier. KK is too overexposed, I watched Happy Go Lucky last night and thought this girl can act! (Sally Hawkins). She's been given too much status too fast, too young to play this part.

Report as inappropriate
mr burger said...

Posted on Sep 10 2008 07:47 i thought this film was amazing

Report as inappropriate
Marian Beaver said...

Posted on Sep 07 2008 22:20 This is an entirely watchable film ; beautiful locations, excellent acting, historically illuminating - and very enjoyable. The pace was perhaps a little too much the same throughout, but there were lots of intensely personal scenes balancing the scenes of social gatherings. The position of women made very clear. Overall I loved it.

Report as inappropriate
phil mk said...

Posted on Sep 07 2008 20:01 Excellent, sensitive and witty depiction of life among the ruling classes in the second half of the eighteenth century. Brilliantly portrayal by the three principal actors. A great film.

Report as inappropriate
John said...

Posted on Sep 07 2008 15:06 Brilliant film did not want it to end. Fiennes and Knightley superb, film an deserves an oscar.

Report as inappropriate