Kris Breeden
Staff Reporter
It’s another period piece for Keira Knightley, though not the typical Hollywood romance.
Set in the late 18th century, The Duchess is based on the true story of Georgiana Spencer, Duchess of Devonshire. The film, directed by Saul Gibb, includes spectacular period costumes, wigs larger than any I’ve seen, and an extremely talented cast, including several newcomers (Dominic Cooper as Chares Grey and Hayley Atwell as Bess Foster).
We see in the movie Georgiana’s transformation from a spirited young woman to a wife trapped in a loveless and unfaithful marriage.
Marrying the Duke (Ralph Fiennes) under her mother’s guidance, Georgiana not only takes on a life of delicacies and social events, but one in which she is expected to fulfill certain duties as a wife. Not only is she supposed to produce a male heir, she also must endure her husband’s multiple affairs, including one with her close friend, Bess Foster, and his moodiness. And all the while she must put on a smile.
The Duke is a boring, awkward husband who can’t seem to hold a conversation, but Fiennes’ realistic portrayal makes the Duke a sympathetic character. While he has rights and abilities that the Duchess lacks, he is still trapped in his marriage to Georgiana, as he has a duty to uphold his name and title.
In contrast with the Duke, Knightley’s Georgiana is passionate and outgoing. She also craves the kind of affectionate love her former sweetheart, Charles Grey, is willing to give her. The temptation Grey offers forces Georgiana to make serious decisions.
Despite these threads of love and relationships throughout the movie, the theme relies more on the impact of motherhood and the sacrifices mothers are willing to make for their children. Despite her initial beliefs, Georgiana comes to realize that the love for her children overpowers everything else.
The film is at the same time a witty and heartbreaking portrayal of the Duchess’ life and her situation in marriage. It is a moving departure from the typical Hollywood period romances in which we most often see Knightley.
Rated PG-13, this film is playing in Owings Mills and in Frederick.