By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.5 cats
Director: Eric Rohmer
Starring: Alain Libolt | Jean-Claude Dreyfus | Léonard Cobiant | Lucy Rusell
Original language title: L'Anglaise et le Duc
Country: france
Year: 2002
Running time: 129
IMDB: http://us.imdb.com/Details?0282674
Michael says: “THE LADY & THE DUKE is Eric Roehmer’s interesting behind-the-scenes look at the French Revolution. Lucy Russel plays a Scottish aristocrat living in France, Grace Elliott, a royalist and former lover and still good friend of Philippe, the Duke of Orleans. Based on the Lady’s memoirs, THE LADY & THE DUKE provides us with a singularly unique point-of-view of this tumultuous time in French history. Grace finds herself in a precariously perilous predicament as the tides of politics swing to and fro. Roehmer is known for his dialogue-heavy films, and THE LADY & THE DUKE is no exception. While I enjoy his contemporary films more, I was surprised that THE LADY & THE DUKE held my interest. A knowledge of the politics of France during the time of her revolution would help, but Lucy Russell’s performance kept me interested. Roehmer’s stylized use of matte painting for exterior shots was an interesting and sometimes fascinating choice, although I found it somewhat distracting.” 2 1/2 cats