the Duchess: A Review

My friends Aly (evil_neko) and Julia (candyholicxo) and I went to see the Duchess at a local theater Thursday evening. It was quite the film, and I highly recommend it for the Lolita crowd.

To begin with, I'm a fan of Kira Knightley, especially in her recent bouts of period dramas, so that was enough to peak my interest. But the real treat of the film is the same thing that drew so many to Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette - it's a stunning visual treat. The settings, both countryside and interiors, are gorgeous. The dresses and fashion are clearly half the point of the entire film - every outfit was gasp-worthy. You know the costume design is good when you find yourself hissing to your seatmate, 'Oh my God! Look, the train! The hat! The roses!'

The hair was also fairly fantastic. The huge hairstyles, which got progressively larger throughout the movie, were amazing to look at. The ancestors of himegyaru, they are mostly giant concoctions of curls and loops. Some are real hair, others are wigs, as historically accurate.

The movie was really about feminism, in a way, or perhaps a failure of feminism. The plot is about the Duchess of Devonshire's (Georgiana) marriage to the Duke of Devonshire, with plenty of mistresses, illegitimate children, and court drama mixed in. Georgiana is constantly trying only to be happy, and her bids for freedom are continuously turned down. But she is certainly no shy lady, though she does admit that she has been taught to please others as a sole occupation.

I won't spoil the ending for those who wish to see it, however :)

The movie was definitely heartwrenching, emotionally, and full of the hard lessons women of any historical period routinely encounter as they grow up. I think the audience very much understood and identified with her pain.

Rating: Definitely a four out of four hearts deal. ♥♥♥! The only thing that bothered me a little was the ending, but I can't spoil it for you, again, so...

I definitely recommend the Duchess to other Lolitas interested in period films, gorgeous dresses, and amazing updos!

Interested in the real Duchess of Devonshire?

Labels: review

posted by Victoria Suzanne @ 2:52 PM