The Duchess
Cast: Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Charlotte Rampling, Dominic Cooper, Hayley Atwell
Director: Saul Dibb
Rating: 4/5
'There were three people in her marriage' the press have been criticised for drawing comparisons between Georgiana the Duchess of Devonshire and Princess Diana in Saul Dibb's new movie The Duchess but with a tag line like that surely it can't come as any surprise.
The Duchess is just the latest period drama to hit the big screen, sandwiched between The Other Boleyn Girl earlier in the year and Brideshead Revisited next month, but before readers develop that glazed seen it all before look this really is worth the cinema admission fee.
Long before the concept existed, the Duchess of Devonshire, Georgiana Spencer (Keira Knightley), was the original 'It Girl.' Like her direct ancestor Princess Diana, she was ravishing, glamorous and adored by an entire country.
Determined to be a player in the wider affairs of the world, she proved that she could out-gamble, out-drink and outwit most of the aristocratic men who surrounded her. She helped usher in sweeping changes to England as a leader of the forward-thinking Whig Party.
But even as her power and popularity grew, she was haunted by the fact that the only man in England she seemingly could not seduce was her very own husband, the Duke (Ralph Fiennes).
And when she tried to find her own way to be true to her heart and loyal to her duty, the resulting controversies and convoluted liaisons, her affair with Earl Grey, would leave all of London talking.
It seems that Keira Knightley really has found her niche in the corset movie as, like Pride and Prejudice and Atonement, she delivers a stunning central performance as the fragile Georgiana who is so desperate for any shred of love that will come her way.
Knightley portrays Georgiana as a strong woman who deals with and survives all that life throws at her including her husband's affairs which leads to him openly have a mistress (Atwell) living in their home to her doomed affair with Earl Grey.
Despite this excellent performance from the leading lady, which has brought whispers of another Oscar nomination, it's the role from Ralph Fiennes that really does steal the show as the emotionally repressive Duke who is the only man in England not interested in his wife.
Fiennes' performances is perfect for a man of his time as he lives within the confines of what was expected of his in this period, to produce a male heir. He is emotionally repressed delivering lines with perfect comic timing to give some light hearted relief to the film.
Dominic Cooper and Hayley Atwell also give very good performances as they both continue to make a name for themselves and are real British talents to look out for in the next few years.
This is also a change of pace for director Saul Dibb who has gone from the gritty Bullet Boy in 2002 to this lavish production and it really is the costumes and the sets that take centre stage.
Costume Designer Michael Connor, who has worked on Harry Potter and Quills, has produced some of the most breath taking outfits that really must be recognised come Oscar time.
While many will compare Georgiana's story to that of Diana she really does deserve a movie within her own right as she very much was a woman of interest and intrigue in her day. And Although it's based on the biography of Georgiana by Amanda Foreman what goes on in the personal rooms are a work of fiction.
The Duchess is a very fine British movie that tells the story of a young woman battered and bruised by life but manages to survive despite the heartache and humiliation that she faces on a daily basis and the decisions that she must make that may not always be what she wants.
And with a superb cast brought together The Duchess packs an emotional punch and is an engrossing 110 minute ride into the life of this late eighteenth century woman who was well before her time.
The Duchess is out on DVD now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw