The Duke of Burgundy (2014)

A woman who studies butterflies and moths tests the limits of her relationship with her lesbian lover.

Director:

Peter Strickland

Writer:

Peter Strickland

Stars:

Sidse Babett Knudsen, Monica Swinn, Chiara D'Anna

6 wins & 27 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Chiara D'Anna	...	Evelyn
Kata Bartsch	...	Dr. Lurida
Sidse Babett Knudsen	...	Cynthia
Monica Swinn	...	Lorna
Zita Kraszkó	...	Dr. Schuller
Gretchen Meddaugh	...	Dr. in Audience
Eszter Tompa	...	Dr. Viridana
Fatma Mohamed	...	The Carpenter
Eugenia Caruso	...	Dr. Fraxini / The Scream (voice)

Storyline

A woman who studies butterflies and moths tests the limits of her relationship with her lesbian lover.

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Plot Keywords:

submission | domination | entomology | lesbianism | lesbian relationship | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site [Hungary]

Country:

UK Hungary

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 January 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Burgonya Dükü

Filming Locations:

Hungary

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,000, 25 January 2015, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$32,630, 8 February 2015

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rook Films, Pioneer Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Due to the elaborate nature of the costume designs, Sidse Babett Knudsen and Chiara D'Anna had to spend three days in costume fitting.

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Quotes

Cynthia: Are you Ok?
Evelyn: Of course.
Cynthia: Are you sure?
Evelyn: I'm sure. I'm sure don't worry. Everything's fine. Everything's more than fine.
Cynthia: Really?
Evelyn: Really. Everything's fine.

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Crazy Credits

The credits for the insect sounds include a full scientific description of the location and weather conditions under which each was taken. For instance, the Gryllotalpa vineae sounds were "recorded by W.J. Reynolds on 26th November 1991 at 11:45 hours a Nagra 4D tape recorder and Sennheiser MKH 405 microphone in dim light at 21 degrees centigrade".

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Connections

References Mothlight (1963)

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Soundtracks

Pavane
Written by Rachel Zeffira & Faris Badwan
Performed by Cat's Eyes

User Reviews

The definitive D/s film

Forget 9 1/2 Weeks, forget Last Tango in Paris, forget Secretary and most definitely forget 50 Shades, this is THE definitive cinematic essay on a dom/sub relationship.

The idea is a fascinating and brave one: to create an homage to artistic elements of the "disreputable" sexploitation movies of the 1970s and make it beautiful and profound. It's another movie that full of references to other movies and to the movie-making process. I recognised only little hints of Just Jaekin, being unfamiliar with the other influences. I did spot the marker tape on the carpet that serve two purposes, practical and metaphorical. Er.. three, there are two metaphors going on, I think, one plot-related and one post- modern commentary.

Talking of plot, it is so slight that it could be explained in three sentences. I won't, obviously, but honestly it wouldn't matter if I did. What matters is the manner of the telling.

The story inhabits a strange dream-like space where everyone in the town is a fetishistic female entomologist! (If anyone can explain the significance of the entomology, please do, I'm all ears!) But within the unreal external world, the two heroines inhabit an emotional world that is utterly believable.

In sumptuous but slightly muted autumn colours, the film looks gorgeous. I found it sensual, very erotic (despite there being no more than a few seconds of anything you could call "sex" and no nudity at all), emotionally engaging, warm, sad, funny and REAL.

Although the story deals exclusively with dominance and submission (no trace of S&M despite what it says in all the publicity, including in interviews with the director) it is a universal story about conflicting desires, fantasies, trust and compromise. In some way, it is a story for every relationship.

I absolutely loved this film.