Watch The Duke of Burgundy

The Duke of Burgundy is a 2014 British drama film directed by Peter Strickland. The movie follows the story of the relationship between two women, Cynthia and Evelyn, who live in an unspecified European country. Cynthia is a lepidopterist, a person who studies butterflies and moths, while Evelyn is her maid. The film is set in a seemingly timeless world, with an aesthetic that invokes a mix of '70s Euro horror and softcore pornography. The Duke of Burgundy had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2014, where it won the award for Best Canadian Feature Film.

The movie opens with a series of slow, hypnotic images set to a dreamlike soundtrack. It soon becomes apparent that the story centers around a complex S&M relationship between Cynthia and Evelyn. But this is no ordinary BDSM tale. Rather than focusing on power dynamics and physical domination, The Duke of Burgundy is more interested in exploring the psychological complexities of domination and submission.

Cynthia and Evelyn's relationship is based on a strict set of rules and rituals. Cynthia is the dominant partner, with Evelyn as her submissive. But as the film progresses, it becomes clear that the rules of their relationship are starting to break down. Cynthia appears to be losing interest in the role of the dominant partner, while Evelyn is becoming increasingly frustrated with her submissive role.

The Duke of Burgundy is a visually stunning film, with a gorgeous and unsettling color palette that ranges from deep, rich purples to sickly greens. The film's cinematography is particularly noteworthy, with a series of surreal, dreamlike landscapes that evoke a sense of otherworldliness. The film is also notable for its lack of male characters, with almost all of the film's cast being female. This creates a sense of isolation and claustrophobia that adds to the film's sense of unease.

The performances in The Duke of Burgundy are universally excellent. Sidse Babett Knudsen, best known for her role in the television series Borgen, gives a nuanced and complex portrayal of Cynthia. Monica Swinn, a Belgian actress who appears primarily in softcore pornography films, is also excellent as the submissive Evelyn. But perhaps the film's standout performance comes from Chiara D'Anna, who plays Lorna, a lepidopterist who Cynthia hires as a maid. D'Anna gives a hauntingly beautiful performance, imbuing her character with a sense of sadness and loneliness that is deeply affecting.

The Duke of Burgundy is a challenging and thought-provoking film that delves into complex themes of power, control, and desire. It's a film that rewards patient viewers, with its slow, hypnotic pacing and deeply ambiguous narrative. While not for everyone, it's a film that is sure to linger in the mind long after the credits have rolled.

The Duke of Burgundy is a 2015 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 46 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 87.