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THE DUCHESS

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THE DUCHESS

Starring: Kira Knightly, Ralph Fiennes, Dominic Cooper, Hayley Atwell, and Charlotte Rampling

Directed By: Saul Dibb

PG-13 for sexual content, brief nudity and thematic material

By John Delia

Kira Knightly plays nobility with aplomb and a fiery dignity in The Duchess, a brilliant period piece with an uncompromising tale of love, deception and dishonesty. For all you lovers who like their movies well acted, beautifully photographed and totally immersing that this film is for you.
The true story takes place in England at the end of the 18th Century where we find The Duke of Devonshire William Cavendish (Fiennes) making a contract with Lady Spencer (Rampling) for her daughter Georgiana’s (Knightly) hand in marriage. Since Lady Spencer’s bloodline has birthed a long line of boys, The Duke has found Georgiana not only lovely but also his chance to have an heir to his dukedom. After siring three girls with some male miscarriages in between, The Duke has become disillusioned with Georgiana that leads to an affair with Bess Foster (Atwell), an outcast Lady with three boys who has befriended Georgiana. When things become uneasy in the household with Georgiana’s new best friend, she retaliates by taking interest in Lord Charles Grey (Cooper).
The movie gets a lot of help from the excellent acting of Knightly and Fiennes. The two veteran actors play out their roles with style bringing the 18th Century characters to life. In a pivotal scene where The Duke and Georgiana are at odds with each other over his affair with Foster, Knightly delivers a standout performance with her decisive retort. Later when the Duke finds out about Georgiana’s discretions, Fiennes shows the dark side of The Duke in his confrontation and punishment.
Direction by Dibb is very good with smooth transitions and strong detail to the period. His ability to make the cast perform to the peak of their ability gives the film the necessary assurance to make an 18th century period piece enjoyable to watch. Of the films that come to mind that are equally good would include; Howard’s End, A Room with a View, and The Remains of the Day. Cinematography in this film goes beyond great from the vibrant beauty of Bath, to the dismal fields where Georgiana has to give up her child, to the opulent castle halls. It made me fell as if I were there.
The film contains a brief shot of the back of a nude woman, implicit sex and a scene of implied rape.

FINAL ANALYSIS: The Duchess is a wonderful film for those who want a fervent tale of 18th Century British reality. 3.5 of 5 stars

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