A decent soap opera

Rating: 6/10 (29 June 2009)

This is a decent enough film, but I guess I expected more in the way of historical context and social contrast.
In Duchess we have a few very rich people acting mostly in accordance with the dictates of their time and class. If the spirit of revolution is in the air it hasn't reached them yet. Duchess is something like "Dr. Zhivago" without the Revolution-- basically just a soap opera.
I was disappointed with the heroine's choice between children and love. I thought the plot would take off at that point. I was expecting... what? Anna Karenina? Duchess is Anna Karenina Lite. Very lite.
Don't know why I have the Russians on my mind. I guess they have done these kind of stories much better.
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