Bow deeply to The Duchess, for this beautiful film is a celebration of the true life story of a beautiful and remarkable woman

Rating: 9/10 (16 October 2008)

Georgiana Spencer (Keira Knightly) is of marriageable age in olde England. Her parents, especially her mother (Charlotte Rampling) are delighted that she has caught the eye of the extremely wealthy Duke of Devonshire (Ralph Fiennes) and she is under consideration to become his wife. Basically, the Duke has two requirements for his future partner, that is, she must be attractive and she must be very fertile. Providing an heir to his fortune is of utmost importance to this man. After assurances of family genetics, the match is made. "G" is astonished and happy to become the Duke's wife, for she has high hopes for a loving marriage. Alas, the Duke proves to be a cold fish who is more interested in his dogs than in his wife, and, apart from an occasional trip to the bedroom, he ignores his young and beautiful spouse. Then, too, although Georgiana proves herself capable of bearing children, two young daughters survive while two sons are stillborn. This is a bitter pill for the Duke to swallow and he brings a mistress into the house, Bess (Hayley Atwell) and expects G to accept the situation. Meanwhile, all of society loves the young Duchess, for few can resist her beauty, charm and wit. No one realizes the unhappiness of her life away from society until she meets an old friend, Charles Grey. In him, Georgiana sees a man who could bring her true love and affection. But, even though the Duke is permitted his dalliances, will he allow his young wife to do likewise? Hardly! This is a beautiful film which celebrates the true life story of the beautiful and remarkable Duchess of Devonshire. In her era, women were the ultimate "trophy" wives and were expected to aid their husbands in society but remain strictly under their thumbs at the same time. If sacrifices were required, the women were asked to make any and all of them, even ones that seemed impossible. Naturally, this was a tall order for intelligent and sensitive women like Georgiana, and sometimes sorrow was the result. As the young royal, Knightly is wonderful, exhibiting a totally new performance that shows the great depth and breadth of her acting abilities. Fiennes, too, in a completely unforgiving role, brings such a vast amount of complexity to his part that viewers can not dismiss him as merely a thoroughly loathsome individual. The other actors, including Atwell and Rampling, are all very fine as well. The scenery in London and the English countryside is most inviting and the costumes are astonishingly opulent and of award winning caliber. The direction and script are marvelous, too, and indeed the whole production breathes class and refinement. If you are a fan of historical fare, don't miss this one. You will be enchanted. But, even if you are not a normal admirer of the "bodice drama", you will be so enthralled with the Duchess that you will bow to its ultimate power and beauty.