Watch the trailer and read the NY Times review: http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/254693/The-Lady-and-the-Duke/trailers
Here's an unknown gem from 2001 I found used for $7.95 in my favorite CD/DVD store which is in Portsmouth, NH. The cover art about the French Revolution and reading that the director is Eric Rohmer, one of France's famous filmmakers who's in his 80's, were enough for me to take a gamble and the price was right too. What was most interesting was that the historical exterior backgrounds were digitally recreated to resemble old paintings. They looked fine on my 32" TV screen and would have looked better in a theater's larger one.
What's also unusual that there's more dialogue than action here that the movie resembles a stage play with mostly interior scenes but is never stagy. The plot concerns an English lady living in France during the Reign of Terror and sympathetic to the aristocracy and risks her life to help a fugitive escape. Her former lover, a French Duke, wants to help lead the new France but hasn't convinced their new dangerous leaders of his loyalty. These two spend lots of screen time debating the merits of their beliefs as well as others who join in their arguments. There's enough suspense with 'will-they-get-away?' scenes as they avoid being caught or argue with their unruly accusers whose usual verdict leads to the guillotine.
Some may find this movie too talky for their taste but it's good talk. It's also based on the heroine's memoirs and the historical details will appeal to fans of costume epics. Call it an intimate epic boistered with good performances. If you hate subtitles and there's plenty needed to cover the debates, avoid it.
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