Never Dream to Become a Duchess

Written By : Riri Oktriani

Film Identity
Title : The Duchess
Year : 2008
Cast : Keira Knightly, Ralph Fiennes, Dominic Cooper, Hayley Atwell
Director : Saul Dibb
Producers : Michael Kuhn, Gabriel Tana

The Duchess. Where’s Georgiana Spencer (Keira Knightly), a noble’s wife, heir a kingdom of London—The Duke, sacrifice her whole life become a prisoner in her own home. The Duke of Devonshire, William (Raplh Fiennes), marrying Georgiana just for one purpose: in order get a son to continue his kingdom. But badly, Georgiana give him a daughter. William himself thought that this is a Georgiana’s failed as a wife because can’t give him a son.

Her husband have a relationship with Lady Elizabeth (Laura Stevely)—who was also a friend of Georgiana. Many years, Georgiana living in deep painfull. And in complicated condition she’s in love with a young politicus, Charles Grey (Dominic Cooper). As a wife of a Duke, Georgiana can’t do much, except, do William’s rules. She can’t ask her husband to leave Lady Elizabeth. Of course, because she have no power for that. She have to pretend as “Duchess”—a calling for The Duke’s wife—who support her husband and follow all of his rules. Mean a while, her relationship with Charles Grey is deeper than she realize.

William’s selfish as a controler of Georgiana’s life seeing when Georgiana had a baby boy—as he wish. He just don’t care about Georgiana’s feeling, eventhough he knew that Georgiana cheating with Charles Grey. He just thinking about getting a son. And Georgiana herself have no power to leaving her husband and live together with Charles because she have to hold on for her daugthers.

Lady Elizabeth know that Georgiana loves Charles. Than she help Georgiana to meet Charles quietly. No longer, William knew about that. Then he “punish” Georgiana. If she doesn’t come back to the kingdom, he will make every door closed for Charles. It means, no chance for Charles become Prime Minister. And Georgiana have no choice (again) except, follow the rules.

Until Georgiana pregnant—a baby from Charles—William send her to a village far from kingdom. He command Georgiana to take a birth there. And after that, the baby girl, will grown up by Charles’ family. It’s painfull.

After back to kingdom, her life just become as usual. Pretend that she’s okay, and nothing happen. Because the people in kingdom just knew that she went for travel for a years. But, that’s not real life. In the end, Georgiana give her blessed to Lady Elizabeth and her husband to get marry. She’s still living in palace with her daughters and Elizabeth’s sons. But, Lady Elizabeth keep helping Georgiana to see her daughters—in Charles’ family—queitly. Until her death, her life just like that. Become a prisoner in her own home.

This film setting in 18th century in London. At that time, I can see that women only use to get a son for the throne kingdom. And if they can do that, it means they fail to do their duty as a wife. But, now we know that man, actually make certain about that the baby is girl or boy. At that time, It’s just unfair for women. Because women supposed to appreciated for their loyality, efort, and persistence to the family.

And this film, can make men realize that they have to appreciated and no underestimate for women. Cause, glory of a men determined by a women—their wife. So, for you men, you need to think twice about it.