The Duchess - B

On DVD and Blu-Ray

Keira Knightley gets suited up for a costume drama once again, this time playing Georgiana, who, at the age of 17, married the older Duke of Devonshire (Ralph Fiennes). At first, she can’t provide a male heir so marriage tensions rise. G (as she is called) meets Bess Foster and they form a close friendship, which will be torn apart when Bess finds a way to get her 3 estranged sons back. Meanwhile, G recognizes her longtime love for Charles Grey, who she’s known since before she was married. The duke and duchess will commit infidelities, which complicate their public appearances and responsibilities – as well as their relationships with their children.

Fiennes’s character is naturally withdrawn and subdued so he can be forgiven for his wooden portrayal. Knightley is terrific dealing with love, lust, and fear – and for the first time, mothering. She really sells the relationship with her kids. The supporting cast is strong. The music swells as just the right times, enhancing the emotions of the scenes. The costumes, sets, and cinematography are all well done, and fans of period romances or dramas should have no complaints. Based on a true story, the film takes some unexpected turns and is interesting when compared to the late Princess Diana of recent times. The film drops the politics in favor of the romance - which basically works. But what works best and hits home is the notion that most any parent will shuffle off their selfish desires for the well-being of their children. The contrast between idealism and realism is satisfactorily portrayed as is the observation that childhood should be a protected time of innocence before the harsh adult world arrives. B