The Duke of Burgundy (2014) Chiara D'Anna, Kata Bartsch, Sidse Babett Knudsen Movie Review

The Duke of Burgundy (2014)   2/52/52/52/52/5


The Duke of Burgundy (2014)

A Dying Caterpillar

Evelyn (D'Anna) arrives as the home of lepidopterologist Cynthia (Knudsen), an older woman who Evelyn appears to clean for. And Cynthia appears to be a very demanding woman who punishes Evelyn if her cleaning is not up to her high standards. But the truth is that Evelyn and Cynthia are lesbian lovers and it is Evelyn who is the controlling one as she has Cynthia act out her fantasies of being a controlling woman. But having to live this fantasy day in day out is getting to Cynthia who away from Evelyn's gaze is struggling.

Let me give you the positive first and that is the cinematography which has a 70s feel to it with some nicely shot outdoor scenes which have that slightly soft focus. There are also some beautiful settings be it the courtyard of Cynthia's home to a shot through the spokes of a bike against the sand coloured stone of the street. But for me that is the only positive I could find from watching "The Duke of Burgundy" a movie which whilst not bad didn't entertain me. It isn't that I couldn't follow it, sexual fantasy role play with one person not enjoying the demands of it is not complicated but it didn't grab me.

But I read a review of "The Duke of Burgundy" which listed all these influences they picked up whilst watching it and I have to admit that many of those influences meant absolutely nothing to me. As such I would say that "The Duke of Burgundy" is not so much a movie for those seeking to be entertained but for those who look at cinema as a form of art and can spot those references.

What this all boils down to is that "The Duke of Burgundy" was not for me and being truthful I found it a slice of life I won't get back. But there is a beauty to it and I am sure those who see cinema as art might gain more from it than those seeking entertainment.


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