The Popularity of Heritage Films

The Duchess

Unlike the other films that I have chosen, the 2008 film, 'The Duchess' provides an autobiographical account of the 18th Century Aristocrat Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, based on Amanda Foreman's biography on her. The films main strengths are that of its setting, the extravagant costumes and the well known cast, as it follows the unfortunate story of Georgiana in the restrictions of soceity on women. This is emphasized in Keira Knightley's portrayal of the Duchess, where we see her grow from a naive 17 year old woman, who is forced to grow up upon her loveless marriage to William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire, into a woman who tries to fight soceity's rules and regulations in order to lead the life that she wants. These emotions are shown in fear, anger, the betrayal of her best friend Bess, love and loss and finally acceptance, amongst her life of notoriety and fame as she searches for love.

Throughout the film, costumes play a large part in the film in order to not only set the time period of the film but also to emphasize their wealth and status as the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, in which her fame and notoriety were bred from. This is as well as the fact that she was also known as a fashion icon through her extravagant tastes and charisma. Despite the fact that the film differs from the traditional love story of most Heritage films, it provides a realistic ending to a woman's infamous life, despite the fact that she was to remain as one of two wives to the Duke of Devonshire. A scene that supports this is when she walks across a balcony in extravagant clothing, with a feather in her hair, which is when she is referred to as a fashion icon.

The films appeal was also publicised to link to the fact that Georgiana Cavendish was an ancestor to Princess Diana. The film is also supported by a strong narrative, that is further strengthened by the fact that it is based on the eventful life of a real person, as it follows her pollitical influence, her image as a fashion icon, as well as her marriage to her unfaithful husband, that was further enforced by her ill-fated love affair with Earl Charles Grey.

The Duchess is also shown to be a complex character in the way that she follows the expectations of soceity in her quest to provide her husband with a son and heir, but differs in her love of gambling and drinking that provide the audience with an exciting character that defies all expectations that are attached to the title of 'Duchess' as well as the way that she shows varied emotions as she experiences both strengths and weaknesses in her life.

Despite, the films unconventional ending, the film does follow conventions in the way that it deals with similar issues that most period/ Heritage films deal with, such as the relationships between two or more people in most commonly in the need for woman to marry, which also further reflects the 18th century time period of the films setting. The importance of setting is shown in the large grounds that they are seen playing in with the children at the end of film, and the scenes of the house, with their large empty corridors and rooms, as well as the dinning table that Georgiana, Bess and the Duke sit at which is long and empty, which in turn emphasises excessive wealth as well as empty conversation amongst the awarkward situation and topics regarding the Dukes's affairs, that they are all thinking but cannot be said. All of which provide a Heritage film that both defies and follows the structures of period drama conventions.