Keira Knightley as THE DUCHESS

THE DUCHESS just shows that actor Keira Knightley can do just about anything if she puts her mind to it. This period story about Georgiana, The Duchess of Devonshire’s (Knightley) life as a mother and a political figure among sexual scandal is far from an original concept but writers Jeffrey Hatcher, Anders Thomas Jensen, and Saul Dibb (who also directed) presents a captivating story of a woman who would sacrifice everything for her family even giving up her one true love.

When Georgiana marries the Duke of Devonshire (Ralph Fiennes) she thinks her life will be perfect but it soon becomes clear to her that her husband only married her so that he could have an male heir and that he would rather take the maid-servants to his bed then his own wife. This leads to Georgiana’s increased involvement in politics and where she falls in love with a man from her past Charles Grey (Dominic Cooper). Through this illicit affair Georgiana will learn the true meaning of sacrifice as she must confront a man who has power to undo her entire life in a world where women are seen as nothing more then property and a means to continue the male lineage of an overbearing husband.

Although a beautifully filmed movie I found THE DUCHESS to be nothing more than a very good period film in which Knightley does a fantastic job (as she did in SENSE & SENSIBILITY and ATONEMENT). The rest of the cast is capable but it is Charlotte Rampling as Lady Spenser (Georgiana’s mother) that makes an impression as she delivers the quintessential Lady. I really wanted to love this film but neither Fiennes or Cooper make an impression on me so I couldn’t really relate to what all the fuss was about.
Nevertheless, THE DUCHESS is one of the better period films that I’m sure will do marvelous things for Knightley in the future.