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

7 wins & 28 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:

lesbian | female stockinged legs | entomology | lesbianism | lesbian relationship | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Luis Buñuel is a big influence on Peter Stickland. Hence the name of one of the characters in the movie, Dr. Viridana, a nod to Buñuel's movie Viridiana (1961).

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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

After the cast of actresses is a cast of Featured Insects in Order of Appearance.

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Connections

Referenced in Fake or Fortune?: Lowry (2015)

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Soundtracks

Evelyn's Birthday (Flute Version)
Written by Rachel Zeffira & Faris Badwan
Performed by Cat's Eyes

User Reviews

Intoxicating brew of dark, atmospheric erotica

"The Duke Of Burgundy" was a fictional pub in the classic Ealing comedy Passport To Pimlico (1949). It also happens to be the name of a certain species of butterfly found only in England. Far from a film about a friendly neighbourhood pub, or an educational chat with David Attenborough, the 2014 incarnation of The Duke Of Burgundy is encased within a potent atmosphere of unease, sexual tension, twisted eroticism and dark humour. Much like viewing a case of mounted butterflies, we watch the action unfold. Visuals are more important than words. This is a truly cinematic experience that demands its audience closely observe everything before its eyes. The butterfly metaphor may be overused - having been exploited in The Collector (1965) and in The Smiths lyric "You can pin and mount me like a butterfly" - however, it is revisited to great effect in this film.

The film observes the daily routine of Cynthia (Sidse Babett Knudsen) and Evelyn (Chiara D'Anna). Much like insects pinned down and encased under glass, we observe them trapped in a provocative routine that starts with punishment and pleasure and ends with a crumbling emotional facade. As Cynthia yearns for a more conventional relationship, Evelyn's obsession with erotic role-playing threatens to push the two apart.

The Duke of Burgundy is a unique voyeuristic experience courtesy of Peter Strickland, the award winning writer and director of Berberian Sound Studio and Katalin Varga. Much like Berberian Sound Studio, he returns us to the European cult movies of the 1970's. It's refreshing to note that while many recent directors seem to be emulating the crowd-pleasing visuals of The Wachowskis, Lynch, Tarantino or Snyder, Strickland is enthralled with Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci, Jess Franco and Sergio Martino - with a pinch of Bergman. To a certain degree, Strickland's themes and visuals may also owe a debt to lesser known Euro-cult gems like Baby Yaga and Daughters of Darkness.

Anyone who's familiar with The Duke of Burgundy's cinematic lineage knows how essential a good soundtrack is. Many of the original giallo and Euro-sleaze films where soundtracked by the likes of Ennio Morricone, Bruno Nicolai and Goblin. The Duke of Burgundy benefits greatly from a soundtrack by Cat's Eyes, an alternative pop duo featuring vocalist Faris Badwan - of English indie rock band The Horrors - and Italian-Canadian soprano, composer and multi-instrumentalist Rachel Zeffira (sounding rather like Lynch favourite Julie Cruise). Having played their first ever gig in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, during an afternoon mass "attended by seven high-ranking cardinals", the duo are the perfect choice to compliment Strickland's retro Italo-thriller imagery. The opening credit sequence is an especially good mix of sound and image recalling the era perfectly.

If the overtly commercial eroticism of Fifty Shades of Grey leaves you cold, then head down to The Duke of Burgundy and drink in its intoxicating brew of dark, atmospheric erotica.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site [Hungary]

Country:

UK Hungary

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 January 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Duke of Burgundy

Filming Locations:

Hungary

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,902, 25 January 2015

Gross USA:

$64,521

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$185,147

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rook Films, Pioneer Pictures, British Film Institute (BFI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1