Excessive Lives Pay A Price

Rating: 8/10 (17 February 2010)

I knew Keira Knightly from the Pirates films of Johnny Depp. This movie proves she is an excellent actress. Based upon a true story of British excess, this film is very well made. It is a joint production effort of BBC, Paramount, & some independent film companies.
The location sets in Britain are fantastic. The costumes are so good they won awards. When you include a very good dramatic script and fine acting by the entire cast, this film is destined to be considered a great drama.
The story shows very much how being in the upper class during the late 1700's into the early 1800's had a price to pay. The Duchess gets married on the advice of a controlling mother, not for love, but for status. This marriage is not a union that is made in heaven. Her husbands entire purpose for her is to get a male heir. Their huge mansion winds up with a large family before the male heir is finally delivered.
The Duchess, finds love but not with her husband. She finds it with a woman who then finds love with her husband, & then finds it with a man, a politician whose aim is to be Prime Minister. In order to retain her status, she puts up with her husband having numerous affairs. Then in order to not lose her own children, she has to drop the Prime Minister after producing a daughter of his.
This movie is for the drama fan, and it is full of drama. It shows the definite drawbacks to royal living as the Duchess gives up personal happiness for her entire life in order to keep her public persona. A tragedy really and very well presented one at that.