Good film

Rating: 7/10 (10 September 2008)

Keira Knightley proves yet again that she can do costume drama in her latest film. She plays Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire, who was also an ancestor of Diana Spencer(Princes Diana).
Georgiana married the Duke(Ralph Fiennes) in 18th England,a wealthy aristocrat.The deal, and it is a deal, is that she provide him with a male heir.Geogiana became a fashion icon and a celebrity in high society.She was also quite a fun loving character who liked gambling and attending the theatre.
We are given plenty of references to the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.Georgiana marries a man who is unable to show his emotions, and is determined to have a male heir to carry on the bloodline.Her happiness is way down the list of priorities.
The film makes it clear that women,including aristos like Georgiana were regarded as second class citizens.With no money, no votes or sexual freedom, they had were required to look pretty and breed children for the men who formed the ruling class. Once the Duchess decides to gain her own happiness, the Duke makes sure that he takes that away.
The Duchess also shows that unconventional lifestyles were in existence long before the 1960s.The Duke moves his mistress,Lady Elizabeth Foster,played by Hayley Attwell into his home.
Keira Knightley carries the film as the central character, with great support from Ralph Fiennes,Charlotte Rampling and Dominic Cooper.Miss Knightley has got that star quality camera that any movie star must have.The girl can act ! A very entertaining film about the aristocracy in Britain before the Industrial Revolution.