Duchess, The

Aroview: Costume connoisseurs will rejoice in the splendour of Keira Knightley’s dazzling dresses and eye-catching cranial plumage in this depiction of the scandalous life of the Duchess of Devonshire – a gambling, partying precursor to Princess Diana who sought passion and freedom beyond binding duty and a loveless marriage.

A bastardised feminist hybrid of MARIE ANTOINETTE and a certain royal ménage a trois, this will probably elicit tut-tuts from history buffs for the payment of mere lip-service to the Duchess’s societal influence and political persuasions. The production design, however, is nothing short of magnificent, and soulless-eyed Ralph Fiennes makes for a convincing cold fish. The much-maligned Knightley ain’t half-bad, either.

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