movie: The Duchess

A friend and I wanted to see "The Duchess" so I went online to find the nearest Chicago theaters showing it and it appears that none of the multiplexes on the southside are running the film. I can only surmise that this is because the operators assume the audience in the southside market would not be large (read profitable) enough for such a film.

This brought back to mind my daydream of owning and running an eclectic movie house . . . but to the movie itself:

"The Duchess" recounts the life of Lady Georgiana Spencer who, at age 16 became Duchess of Devonshire when she was selected by William Cavendish, the very wealthy and powerful Duke of Devonshire, to become his wife.

I deliberately use the term "selected" because it is soon revealed that this marriage had nothing to do with love, although young Georgiana (portrayed by Keira Knightley) when told by her mother of the upcoming arranged nuptials asked in wide-eyed wonder, "He loves me?"

Rather, in exchange for the prestigious union, her part of the "bargain"--as the Duke (Ralph Fiennes) put it--was that she be loyal and produce him a male heir. So her idea of marriage out of love was rather quickly dispelled. At public and social events, the Duchess Georgiana was glamorous, set fashion trends, and was adored by all except her husband. In particular, she was still adored by a former suitor. For his part, the Duke provided her a lavish palatial home and considerable influence even as he maintained emotional distance from her, being consistently cold and uncommunicative and indulging himself with numerous mistresses.

Very early in her marriage--in fact while still a new bride--the Duchess of Devonshire stated, "There's no such thing as 'freedom in moderation.' Moderately free would be the same as moderately dead."

This concept of freedom seems to be the dominant theme of "The Duchess." As several years passed and Georgiana, by giving birth only to girls, failed to fulfill her part of the "bargain," events developed that were, from my 21st century perspective, absolutely outrageous. I wouldn't dream of giving away the details here, but what struck me was the strangling lack of freedom for women, who sought to make the best of the limited options available to them.

Restrained as she was by the mores of society of 1770's England, the Duchess expressed herself via trend-setting fashion and was outspoken in politics. But she had hardly any personal freedom. Georgiana was free of airs and pretense, which was a large part of why she was so adored, and free to wield her influence politically but, as for personal freedom? Maddeningly, Depressingly, No.

And it was not the Duchess alone who was without freedom. At a turning point in the film, even the Duke, as he watched children at play, wistfully wondered at being that free.

"The Duchess" is such a fine movie. I'm glad I saw it, and I recommend it. The characters are beautiful, the settings sumptuous, and the most lavish of every material thing is available to them, but I could not imagine living through such a time, even with all the riches at my disposal, and being so bound on all sides.