The Duchess (2008)
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A woman navigating the complexities of marriage and social standing in 18th-century England faces a profound personal crisis.
The story
In 1774, the young Georgiana Spencer is contracted in marriage to William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire, with the expectation that she produce his male heir. She is quickly disillusioned by her husband, especially when Charlotte, William’s illegitimate child whose mother has died, comes to live with them while Georgiana is pregnant. William expects Georgiana to tolerate the child's presence and practice "mothering" on her. As Georgiana becomes a leading light in fashionable society, she navigates the rigid expectations of her role as a Duchess while dealing with the complexities of her marriage and the presence of the child in her home.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1774, Georgiana Spencer marries William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire, to produce a male heir. She is forced to 'mother' his illegitimate child, Charlotte. When Georgiana gives birth to a girl, William is displeased, viewing her as having failed her duties. Georgiana becomes a socialite and takes in her friend, Lady Bess Foster, who is later revealed to be having an affair with William. Georgiana begins an affair with her long-time acquaintance, Charles Grey. After a violent confrontation with William, she eventually ends the affair but informs him she is pregnant with Charles's child. She is sent away to give birth to Eliza Courtney, who is raised by the Grey family. The film concludes with Georgiana and William reconciling, and she eventually permits William to marry Bess. In an after-credits scene, Georgiana visits her daughter, who later names her own daughter Georgiana.
- First release year
- 2008
- Runtime (minutes)
- 110
- Production countries
- France; Italy; United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Saul Dibb
- Writers
- Jeffrey Hatcher · screenplay; Anders Thomas Jensen · screenplay; Saul Dibb · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Keira Knightley · Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire; Ralph Fiennes · William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire; Charlotte Rampling · Georgiana Spencer, Countess Spencer, Georgiana's mother; Dominic Cooper · Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey; Hayley Atwell · Lady Elizabeth 'Bess' Foster; Aidan McArdle · The Right Honourable Richard Brinsley Sheridan; Simon McBurney · The Right Honourable Charles James Fox
- Genres
- historical drama; biographical drama; romantic drama
- Themes
- marriage; social status; motherhood
- Tone and mood
- period drama; subtly feminist
- Premise and plot tags
- historical; biographical; romance
- Source material / true-story basis
- Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman
- Content notes
- implied marital rape
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 62% · review count: 170; Metacritic · score: 62 · scale: 100 · review count: 34
- Awards and nominations
- Best Costume Design · Academy Awards · win; Best Art Direction · Academy Awards · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was originally intended to be directed by Susanne Bier.; The film was shot on location at several historical sites including Chatsworth and Holkham Hall.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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