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

usman khawaja said...

Posted on Sep 07 2008 05:16 after a long time i saw a movie where i lost count of time as i was totally engrossed by the true characters and their realistic execution,keira has taken care to portray a very difficult role without making it look either a trollop or a sentimental victim but rather a woman who is spirited enough to fight but knows when she cannot win a lost war and she is compelling to watch in every frame ,fiennes is fascinating as the wilful,masochistic but pragmatic duke with a soft side,and the truth is presented so well as he glorifies in his bigamous relationship with 2 ladies right in the heart of london,this is a real revelation as it shows our social structure as regards sexuality has not changed in over 2 centuries and possibly neither will ,
the inevitable comparison between georgiana and diana is unmistakble and the fact they were both spencers is really quite surreal ,
but this is grand storytelling like KUBRICK'S BARRY LYNDON,infact the atmospheric lighting is created as in that masterpiece and the origonal locales are stunningly filmed ,
i loved the whole unique experience as it also works as an emotional drama as well as an intelligent look at sexual relationships ,
the part where the two women become understanding of each other as wife and mistress is tremendously touching too .
i am really glad dave lavished so much praise on this movie as it deserves all of it and rightly so too,the best movie so far this year by any criteria .

Report as inappropriate
Nick H said...

Posted on Sep 06 2008 22:19 Now, I've not seen this film, but I want to comment on how people are considering the alternative of this film is Bangkok Dangerous or Rocknrolla (which is just another predictable Guy Richie gangsta film). If you love these other films, and recomend them here, WHYY have you seen this film?! What compelled you to spend money on something completely random? Oh, and can people make CONSTRUCTIVE critism, rather than spout a load of jargon, none of which is helping. Saying "I hate Kiera Knightley, hence I hate this film" does not constitute a good review! It's not called dosy rant for a reason! Now please, go ahead and watch it again, then say something useful. Like "I liked the storyline but Kiera was a bit usual and predictable, and spoilt it for me". Something like this!
Enjoy life!
N x

Report as inappropriate
Gem said...

Posted on Sep 06 2008 18:27 I loved it. I'm a Keira Knightley fan anyway, but seeing this movie made me realise why. I thought she was fantastic throughout, and Ralph Fiennes was also amazing.
I think everyone must see if - if you like a period drama and a good heartbreaking love story, go watch! Fantastic!

Report as inappropriate
dodo said...

Posted on Sep 06 2008 13:16 Fantastic!!!

Report as inappropriate
Hmmmmm said...

Posted on Sep 06 2008 12:58 I thought the film was good, but would have liked more of the wit and a deeper look into the politics of the time and the characters of the people involved. I thought that Ralph Fiennes did a fantastic job portraying such a complicated and repressed character. Keira Knightly, as always, was full of intelligence and life. A very enjoyable film in my opinion, but would have liked a bit more depth. Maybe that's not easy to achieve in a couple of hours. But now I'm going to read the book.

Report as inappropriate
usman khawaja said...

Posted on Sep 05 2008 22:07 i have awaited this for eons and eons as the one good piece of mainstream cinema and i am glad timeout is praising it as i trust timeout more than anyone else here -so i will go watch it tomorrow for sure -looks fab

Report as inappropriate
Mrs Manning said...

Posted on Sep 05 2008 14:46 I'll tell you what else I like - Sherry
and my slippers
and of course, The Dutchess

Report as inappropriate
Mr Magoo said...

Posted on Sep 05 2008 14:40 Not very good at all.
Rocknrolla or Bangkok Dangerous are much better and it's something you'll both enjoy. Both these film have a love story and parts that make you want to cry, but they also have a bit of action and are much, much better films! I'm serious.
You won't like the dutchess, and he will hate it as well and then you won't speak to each other for 2 hours afterwards because you're mad you paid to see such a rubbish film.
Do the right thing, Najwa

Report as inappropriate
L Peewinkle said...

Posted on Sep 05 2008 14:33 A shame indeed! I can't believe I sat through this! I'd rather have sat through 2 hours of back to back sketches of the two "Laaadies" from Little Britain!
At least there would be a few laughs!
No redeeming features (except for Kiera Knightly - what a spunk!)

Report as inappropriate
Jonathan T said...

Posted on Sep 05 2008 14:26 Beautiful to look at but the story is vacuous as it only focuses on Georgiana's love life instead of painting a thorough portrait of her character. What a shame.

Report as inappropriate
Mrs Manning said...

Posted on Sep 05 2008 14:26 oh, and I especially like the wonderful hats!
I don't think they're the least bit silly!

Report as inappropriate
Mrs Manning said...

Posted on Sep 05 2008 14:24 Oh how i do love a good love story! This one had me in tears in the cinema. I just get so caught up in how lovely it all is. I went through 2 boxes of tissues. Haven't cried this much since Pretty Woman!
I'm going back to see it with all the other ladies from my bridge club.
Best film I've seen since Anne of Green Gables!
Simply delightful!!

Report as inappropriate
Matt Johnson said...

Posted on Sep 05 2008 14:14 Oh my goodness, hand me a bucket. I swore off these kind of films after "Pride and Prejudice". Now I remember why! Seemed to go on forever! The most tedious 2 hours of my life!
Would have rather seen Bangkok Dangerous

Report as inappropriate
Mr Snerb said...

Posted on Sep 05 2008 14:11 Another boring period drama with silly outfits and silly talking. Definately one for the chicks only. Not half as good as "Rocknrolla"

Report as inappropriate
Chris G said...

Posted on Sep 05 2008 14:08 Any movie with Kiera Knightly, Ralph Fiennes and silly hats can't be any good!
Save your money !

Report as inappropriate