The Duchess

The Duchess is somewhere in the middle between a serious historical drama about the functioning of aristocratic families in the 18th century and a filmed period gossip about courtship in the highest circles. Even if the filmmaker wanted to strictly adhere to reality and accuracy in depicting the social relationships of the relevant era, they come across a fundamental problem. Such reality and thinking are fundamentally alien to today's viewers, and therefore they do not accept it. We simply tend to judge the world of the past through today's eyes. The creators side with the Duchess portrayed by the charming Keira Knightley, although the moral standards of the time clearly sided with her husband, who behaved according to the customs of the time. Marriages were based on economic, operational, and reproductive reasons. Mixing emotions into it was pure folly. There were others for sexual gratification and emotional bonds. It should be noted that marriage was much more of a company with narrow rules and an unpleasant atmosphere than a cozy affair. Another significant aspect was the absolute absence of sexual education and the requirement of virginity. While maintaining a certain discretion, the wealthy classes had enough opportunities for entertainment, although men were privileged given that they were the providers. If people of that time had the opportunity to see our present, they would be shocked at how casually we approach the institution of marriage, on which the society of that time was built. The Duchess is a costume blockbuster with plenty to see and admire, starting with a very solid production design and the performances of leading European actors. From the comments, it is clear that some would have appreciated Jane Austen's style and a more romantic spirit, but that was simply the era. I personally had more of a problem with the screenplay, which could have been further developed and the characters expanded upon. Overall impression: 65%. (14.03.2016)

An ambitious bodice ripper with Keira in bed. Saul Dibb built the atmosphere of eternal "aha!" gossip, social conventions, hidden feelings and boredom so masterfully that he reliably transferred that boredom to me. And even the potentially interesting lesbian scene was cut early on, bummer. (03.03.2009)

The same defect that Shekhar Kapur’s Elizabeth had, a highly artistic and spectacularly elaborate film made by a director who is not an artist, or at least not at such a level to interpret the result and portray what he is trying to do. It is compensated by the flashy costumes and the excellent cast, led by Keira Knightley from the days when all of Hollywood bowed at her feet, a roughly similar position Alicia Vikander enjoys today as a phenomenal talent for the future. Whether that’s enough for a hit, it’s hard to say. (18.12.2017)

An amazing costume spectacle with (for a Czech so unfamiliar with every chapter of British history, i.e., for me) a rather strong, dramatic and unpredictably evolving story, great direction, cinematography, music and a sultry atmosphere where gossip awaits at every corner, and above all with great performances. Keira Knightley proves that she was probably born for this type of role, and Ralph Fiennes... I have nothing to add to the cold, dry mastery he displayed. (10.09.2011)