moviereview - The Duchess

THE DUCHESS

	Dramatised account of the turbulent marriage of Georgiana Spencer to the Duke of Devonshire.	score 3+	moviereview rates films from 1 (unwatchable) to 5 (unmissable)
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Cast
Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Charlotte Rampling, Dominic Cooper, Hayley Atwell

Director
Saul Dibb

Screenwriter
Jeffrey Hatcher

Country
UK / France / Italy / USA

Rating / Running Time
M / 110 minutes

Australian Release
October 2008

Official Site

How terribly modern a woman was Georgiana Cavendish nee Spencer, the Duchess of Devonshire. Celebrated for her striking looks, public and political persona she was the 18th century’s People’s Duchess. Yet her inability to provide a male heir crippled a difficult marriage that soon had her sharing house with her husband’s live-in mistress. Their relationship was heartily satirised in Sheridan’s School for Scandal. While acknowledging the inevitability of a woman’s lot, she embraced the Duke’s choice and would sanction the unavoidable union. Fascinating stuff.

Screenwriter Jeffrey Hatcher avoids the earnest depths of Merchant-Ivory though doesn’t stray terribly far from the conventions of period drama. He steers a stable course spiced by his earlier work; adding the bite of Stage Beauty and freewheeling spirit of Casanova. Coupled with Michael Carlin’s energetic design, the result is a handsome, often educational, always entertaining production. Minor historical liberties notwithstanding, Hatcher’s exploration of celebrity and popular affection gives the film a contemporary twist and added depth.

What stops The Duchess from rising as far as material warrants is the lid Saul Dibb places on his film. Social niceties aside, we want to hear the agony. Instead he applies buttons, exemplified by a brittle, nuanced performance from Fiennes that has the unfortunate side effect of preventing a connection with the Duke’s cold heart. It’s worse for Knightley who despite best efforts remains solid, not spectacular. Even her wrought affair with Charles Grey (soon to be Earl of the tea) wants for a caffeinated punch.

Like her distant relative, the Duchess lived in a world of public favour and private hostility. While Dibb doesn’t pack the emotional wallop he could, The Duchess is still a laudable testament to personal courage and self-sacrifice.

// COLIN FRASER