Spoiler Alert!
This movie was a beautifully executed period piece. All the actors did a great job; there was a very natural feel to their performances. Each actor seemed to perfectly fit into 18th Century Britain. Ralph Fiennes was great as a cold controlling duke and Keira Knightly played an innocent turned scorned and broken hearted wife. The movie score was excellent and the detail in the costumes, sets and scenery was spectacular.
The movie details the early adult life of Georgiana Spencer and is based on Amanda Foreman's book Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire. This movie has gotten lots of press, partly because Georgiana is the direct ancestor of Princess Diana and people have proclaimed Duchess Georgiana the original "it girl." She had fabulous style, liked to party and a varying degree of political influence as well.
The Duchess focused mainly on her unhappy marriage to the Duke of Devonshire. In case you didn't pay attention in history class, back in the 1700's, women were more like property and in high society marriages were arranged for the procurement of land, wealth and heirs.
It breaks down like this, at the age of 17, Georgiana is married away to the Duke of Devonshire in the promise that she will give him a son. Soon she learns that he seems incapable of compassion and passion toward her but his wondering eyes and hands contribute to numerous affairs. One of those affairs results in an illegitimate daughter, whom he allows to come live with him and the Duchess after her mother dies. Georgiana raises the child as her own and in the meantime, produces two daughters of her own with the Duke.
She becomes friends with Lady Elizabeth Foster, who is the victim of an abusive husband. The estranged husband is also keeping her three sons away from her. Georgiana invites Elizabeth to stay with her and the Duke until she can get back on her feet. Unfortunately, the Duke decides to take Elizabeth on as his mistress. Georgiana feels betrayed pleads with her husband to banish Elizabeth from the house but he refuses. Things go from bad to worse in the marriage and the Duke rapes Georgiana during one altercation, which results in the conception and ultimate birth of their son.
Things settle down a bit after their son is born but Elizabeth stays on as mistress and Georgiana begins to wish for a lover of her own. She turns to Charles Grey, a childhood friend and leader in the Whig political party, with aspirations of becoming Prime Minister. She begins a secret affair with him but is quickly discovered by her husband and her mother. She is forced to cut off the relationship with Charles and doomed to a life with her husband and his mistress. But then she reveals that she's pregnant with Charles' child and the Duke decides to send her away to the country until after the child is born to prevent any scandal. She has to give up the baby girl to Charles Grey's family. She then reenters society and she and the Duke and Elizabeth come to an agreement to live happily/unhappily ever after.
I haven't read the book so I don't know if the movie is an accurate portrayal but it seems that they got the cultural part spot on. I'm always intrigued by the way people lived in times past. There are so many fascinating aspects. Chivalry, fashion, socially accepted practices like keeping a mistress, politics, etc.
I'm disappointed that the movie didn't focus more on Georgiana's leadership role in the Whig party and stuck to the romantic and angst themes. I think it would have made for a stronger movie. What I could not stand about this movie is that her friends and family called Georgiana "G." Was that nickname historically documented? I'd like to know. I ground my teeth every time they called her that. It just didn't sound right for 1700's.
Despite my dissatisfaction with those couple of things, I really enjoyed the movie and it could very well end up in my DVD collection. If you like historical biography and period pieces, you'll enjoy the Duchess.
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