The Duchess is a movie about love, a movie about revenge, a movie about control, and a movie about Britain in its golden era. It is a character study, a love story, and a time-piece. Really, The Duchess, has no idea what type of story it wants to be. Keira Knightley plays Georgiana, The Duchess of Devonshire, a populist, Whig Party-supporting, fashion icon that would put Caroline Kennedy to shame. Dominic Cooper plays Sir. Charles Grey, her long-time love interest and the future Prime Minister (Whig) of Britain. Ralph Fiennes plays the Duke of Devonshire, Georgiana’s husband and the political leader of the Whig Party. The cast is rounded out with Hayley Atwell (Bess Foster), Simon McBurney (Charles Fox), and Charlotte Rampling (Lady Spencer).
The Duchess tells the story of a young girl, one who is still idealistic about what love is, who is married away at such a young age. She goes from living a life with her mother, a life of friendship, and a life of flirtations with Mr. Grey, to living a life of luxury, of solitude, and of deceit. Losing friends, her mother, and her innocence, Georgina is forced to grow up, and rather quickly, through the movie. With a husband who is abusive, a friend who betrays her (but later apologizes), and a mother who is not caring, she is forced to be an adult far more quickly then she ever intended to. Until the day she bore a son (which, of course, was her purpose in the marriage), she was not truly free and did not belong in that society.
As any celebrity knows, the pressure of having all of those eyes upon you causes you to do odd and harmful things to yourself; Georgina was no exception to this rule. From being a popular noble, to being exceptionally fashionable (she created the fashions), to being the voice and look of the Whig Party, Georgina was the center of attention. The movie follows this perfectly, as it looks at her downfall, from drugs, gambling, and drinking with an abstract eye. From the monetary losses during games in Bath, to the affair with Mr. Grey, The Duchess leaves no leaf unturned in following the decent from innocence to rock bottom. But, just as equally, it follows the redemption of Georgina as she accepts who she is, what she is, and becomes comfortable in herself. From her leaving Grey, for his sake and her children’s sake, to her accepting Bess as her husband’s lover, The Duchess keeps a non-judging view of the whole situation. This is essential to good storytelling, and is something that the movie does perfectly.
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
"As a love story, the movie falters when it doesn’t come to the stereotypical end"
This has to be the first time I have read a movie faulted for not coming to a stereotypical conclusion. You should probably take a pass on "Casablanca," "Annie Hall," "Manhattan," etc...
2 - Robert M. Barga
Notice that I said it failed as a love story, I in no way argued anything about the movie being bad because of it
3 - El Bicho
Notice that you said it failed as a love story because it didn't "come to the stereotypical end". It's an odd complaint, but you are entitled to it.