When a woman's duty was to provide a son

Rating: 8/10 (20 November 2012)

On the face of it life for Georgiana Spencer is going to get even better as William, The Duke of Devonshire; the most senior peer in England was to marry her. The problem was he had little interest in her apart from her ability to provide him with a male heir. Their relationship worsens when she produces two daughters but no sons. Life at home may be strained but she is one of the most popular in London society; drawing a crowd where ever she goes and even getting involved in politics. She also draws the attention of up and coming politician Charles Grey; at first they are just friends but that changes after she has produced an heir for the duke and he has not only started having an affair with Georgiana's friend Bess but actually moved her into the marital home. Being that this is the eighteenth century standards are quite different and the duke does not see her behaviour as mirroring his; he is just concerned that the gossip about his wife's affair will become public; he gives her an ultimatum; she will stop seeing Charles or she will never see her children again.
This isn't the sort of film I usually watch but I'm glad I did as I rather enjoyed it. Keira Knightley does a fine job in the title role; showing both the joy and despair of the duchess at various stages of the film. Ralph Fiennes is very good as the duke; a man who clearly has difficulty showing emotions and whose only real desire is to have a son... the only time he appears genuinely animated is when he is talking to Bess's sons. As one would expect from a quality period drama everything looks great; beautiful houses in beautiful settings inhabited by beautifully dressed people; even the numerous servants are dressed in impressive attire. It isn't all beauty though; the way society treats women of the day is fairly shocking and at one point the duke rapes his wife and nobody does a thing. If you like period dramas this is certainly worth watching; even if it isn't your favourite genre you may find yourself enjoying it; I know I did.