The Duchess (12A)
I assumed this film to be a typical frocky period drama, and as the BBC helped finance it - I also assumed it'd be fairly good. I was only wrong on the first count, the Duchess isn't that typical.
Knightley plays Georgiana Cavendish, the Duchess of Devonshire - a socialite who finds her loveless relationship with the Duke (Fiennes) suffocating and unhappy. The Duke is prone to infidelity and as the Duchess cannot provide him with a son (she has 3 daughters) they look elsewhere for the love they desire.
The costumes, sets and wigs were all absolutely perfect. The injection of humour (Knightley's hair catching on fair) and contemporary themes seemed a little "modern" compared to other period dramas of this ilk, but that was predictable with the theme set out.
