The English “Period Piece” is one of my least favorite film genres. Dangerous Liaisons is the one such film that I really love. The Duchess is not only an English period piece set in the 18
th Century, but also stars one of my least favorite actresses,
Keira Knightley. I realize that she was the 2
nd highest paid actress in 2007, and was nominated for an Oscar in Pride & Predjudice, but she has never impressed me. I’m sure there are plenty of guys looking forward to seeing her in her corset, but I’m not one of them. I entered the screening with very little hope of being entertained by The Duchess.
The Duchess is based on the true story of 18th century aristocrat Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. Her marriage to the much older Duke (
Ralph Fiennes) was arranged when she was 17, with Georgianna having no idea what was expected of her. Her “job” as Duchess is to produce a male heir, nothing more and nothing less. Instead, the Duchess has multiple miscarriages before producing two daughters. She also becomes famous in her own right as a beautiful fashion icon and gambler. Behind closed doors, The Duke was an abusive husband, who not only forced Gerogianna to take care of his daughter from a previous relationship, but also allow his mistress to live with them. And this mistress was Georgianna’s best friend. The Duke rationalized all this by saying that Georgianna was not doing her “job”. Georgianna eventually does have a son, but by this point she understands that the marriage is a marriage in name only.
She must keep herself busy to keep from crying. She begins to assist a childhood friend named Earl Grey with his political career. Her popularity helps him immensely. This eventually evolves into a passionate affair. The two lovebirds plan to run off together, but the Duke will not have it. The Duchess would have no rights to her children, and making an enemy of the Duke would not be a good political move for Earl Grey. Behind the outgoing public persona, Gerogianna is a very troubled woman trying to make the best of a bad situation.
The Duchess started off slowly. I began to wonder if I was going to battle with my eyelids the entire night. But a surprising thing happened as the movie went along. I began to actually get into the story. The film has all the trappings of a period piece film, with lush sets, impressive costume design, backstabbing characters, and great acting performances. Ralph Fiennes adds just the right amount of menace to The Duke, and Keira Knightley impressed me for the first time, portraying all the different emotions of the Duchess as she grows from a naïve teenager into an adult. She might get some Oscar consideration for this performance as well. I found Geogianna’s life as The Duchess to be fascinating. The period piece is not for everyone, but those who enjoy them should enjoy this one. See it in the theater.
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Black Belt Theater
