The Duke of Burgundy

Plot

Evelyn is studying lepidopterology under the older Cynthia, who frequently lectures on her studies. Evelyn is romantically involved with Cynthia and works as a maid in her home, where she is subject to strict behavioural expectations and high standards for cleanliness. When Evelyn does not complete tasks to Cynthia's satisfaction, she is punished.

As Cynthia increasingly falters in her dominance, it becomes apparent that Evelyn is orchestrating Cynthia's role in the relationship by writing instructions and scripts for specific scenes, which the couple acts out in the same way each day. While Evelyn finds the scenes to be sexually exciting, Cynthia only acts them out to sate her lover. She attempts to please Evelyn by ordering a carpenter to construct a bed with a drawer underneath for Evelyn to sleep in as a punishment; however, Evelyn is unhappy with the length of time it will take to produce the bed, and ultimately refuses the gift.

Evelyn begins to demand that Cynthia lock her in a trunk in the evening as a new punishment. Cynthia agrees, but she is resentful about the new physical separation. Cynthia also becomes self-conscious about her aging, having injured her back moving the trunk to her bedside. She expresses her unhappiness on Evelyn's birthday, when she demands that Evelyn bake her own birthday cake, which she eats while reclining with her feet resting on Evelyn's face. Evelyn does not enjoy the scene and calls out her safeword, pinastri, which Cynthia ignores.

The couple's relationship becomes more strained as Evelyn's expectations go unfulfilled. Finally, Cynthia accuses Evelyn of polishing another lecturer's boots, which she considers to be an act of betrayal. The two eventually seem to make up, and Evelyn agrees to put less emphasis on her sexual needs. The film ends with the couple going through the same play routine seen at the film's start.

Cast

Title

As lepidopterology (study of moths) is a theme throughout the film, the title refers to the Duke of Burgundy (Hamearis lucina) butterfly, although it is no longer known "how [it] received that name in the first place, any reasoning being lost in the mists of entomological antiquity."

Reception

The film received positive reviews from critics. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a rating of 93%, based on 72 reviews, with an average rating of 8.1 out of 10. The critical consensus reads 'Stylish, sensual, and smart, The Duke of Burgundy proves that erotic cinema can have genuine substance'. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the film received an average score of 87 based on 24 reviews.

The A.V. Club called The Duke of Burgundy the 4th best film of 2015. Mike D'Angelo from the site called the film "a beautiful love story disguised as stylish smut" with grading it A. Cat's Eyes' score of the film was praised also and was mentioned as worthy of an Oscar nomination despite giving no chance of it happening because the film wasn't "well-known enough".

Awards and accolades

Strickland received The Wouter Barendrecht Pioneering Vision Award at the Hamptons International Film Festival for his work in the film. The film also won the Grand Jury Prize at the 23rd Philadelphia Film Festival.

Soundtrack

The Duke of Burgundy was released by Cat's Eyes in February 2015.