Review of The Duke of Burgundy (2015) by Reece L — 24 Oct 2015

Like the wings of the butterflies so prevalent throughout The Duke of Burgundy, relationships are made up of elements that make them unique; despite their differences, they're still loving, committed relationships at their core. And while everyone hates moths, they exist and thrive anyway, just as the love between two people does regardless of the ways in which they choose to express it.

It's incredible that a film focusing on a sadomasochistic relationship is able to generate legitimately beautiful, touching, and adorable moments in a social environment that abhors such partnerships. It's also stunningly photographed, cleverly shot in such a way as to emulate the refractory effect of looking through a lens, appropriate given the film's focus on the dynamics of love between two people, the power distributions, the moments of nervousness, the insecurities, the discrepancies in mood, and the inevitable moments of awkwardness and dissatisfaction. This was a smart choice, the beauty allowing for an accessibility for those prone to dismiss their love as disgusting, proving how limited that view is in the process. It gets caught up in its stylistic flourishes on occasion, but the experience as a whole is nuanced and satisfying regardless.