Pros Passable acting, interesting historical period
Cons Wooden script, use of digital effects is alienating
The Bottom Line Don't bother unless you have to see all of Rohmer's films or you are completely fascinated by the French Revolution.
Full Review
The Lady and the Duke is Rohmer's latest but if you were expecting the usual philosophical musings of middle-class French folk you are in for a surprise. It is a period drama set in Paris during the French revolution and the following Terror, based heavily on the memoirs of a Scottish duchess, Grace Elliot, who lived through it.
Unfortunately, Rohmer has been rather over-reliant on his source material - some of the dialogue was taken directly from the memoirs and much of the rest sounds like it has been. Those who don't like Rohmer often complain that his characters don't speak, they just deliver speeches, and this film is one of the worst offenders. It is all the harder to take it seriously as the duchess is an impassioned monarchist and the whole film is skewed in this direction - it is hard to take seriously and sympathise with given what we know of the absolutist monarchy in France at the time.
He has also used digital technology to insert these characters into 18th century-style illustrations instead of real locations, which is novel but I found rather distancing, making the film seem even more like a play.
Much as I enjoy Rohmer's work normally, I would skip this latest effort.
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