Director: Wash Westmoreland
Screenwriters: Richard Glitzer, Rebecca Lenkiewciz, Wash Westmoreland
Starring: Keira Knightley, Dominic West, Eleanor Tomlinson, Fiona Shaw, Aiysha Hart
MPAA Rating: Rated R for sexuality/nudity
Genres: Drama, History, LGBT
Release Dates: 11/21/18 (Limited); 12/11/18 (Disc/Streaming-Amazon Prime, Kanopy)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
It is hardly unusual to see Keira Knightley in yet another period price. It is unusual, however, to see her play a queer character. And, as she has done with her previous, heterosexual characters, she gives a committed, fully-realized performance. Knightley is the main reason to see this movie, which struggles narratively in some sections. The movie that surrounds her is very slight in comparison, but it’s hard not to be enraptured by the beautiful sets and costumes. Dominic West does what he can as the manipulative husband who takes credit for her work, but he can hardly be falted for his disappointing character development (or rather, lack thereof). Yet, the film is entertaining enough and presents a bisexual, polyamorous who was way ahead of her time.
Grade: B+