Devil's Mistress

This was an enjoyable 2 disc DVD. There were so many characters and plots that I think you need to watch it a few times to get them all straight. It was never clear if we were watching about real people or those that were invented for the story. It did not paint a very nice picture of Oliver Cromwell. He came off as unworthy and deceitful at the king whose head he wanted. The very power he despised was in the end the power he wanted for himself. The movie was colourful and interesting with all playing their part well. Now I will have to get some books about the era and see what really happened.

I like this a lot but it really helps if you know something about the people and events of the English Civil War; sometimes called the English Revolution. The quality of the DVD is marginal, to my eye there seemed to be some vertical distortion and, typical of English productions, the sound is weak. At times, this is also too much of a "chick-flick" with the "Devils Mistress" flopping into bed with one handsome Roundhead, Ranter and Seeker after another.

Basically, the English Civil War was a three sided game between the King, Parliament and the people. Dominic West is excellent as Cromwell, the only historic figure most Americans are likely to have heard of. "Free-Born" John Lilburne, Thomas Rainsborough (played by Michael Fassbender) and Edward Sexby are all here and their characters basically ring true. But unless you are fairly well versed on the doings of the Levellers, the New Model Army, the Agitators and the Grandees, and unless you have some idea of the difference between a Puritan, a Presbyterian and an Anabaptist, the plot is hard to follow. The lead character, "The Devil's Mistress" (Angelica Fanshawe played by Andrea Reisborough) is the only purely fictional character.

There are significant American connections here. Thomas Rainsborough and his brother William were the brothers-in-law of John Winthrop, the Puritan Governor of Massachusetts, and both lived in Massachusetts from time to time. Thomas is the hero of the story and had he not been assassinated either by the Royalists or by Cromwell, the circumstances will admit either possibility, the great "what if" of the time has Thomas Rainsborough wresting control of the New Model Army from Cromwell and, along with the Levellers, anticipating the American Revolution by 140 years and, based on " An Agreement of the Free People of England" (1649), establishing the first secular constitutional democratic republic in England in 1649, not in the US in 1789.

"An Agreement of the Free People" had it all: Sovereignty of the people; universal sufferage; due process; and freedom of speech and religion and it really could have happened had not Thomas Rainsborough been assassinated.

First of all, let it be known that the blurb on the back of the DVD case is quite misleading in its attempts to market the product as more racy and spicy than it really is. The protagonist is described as a "manipulative" woman who "exploits a country in crisis in a bid to better her own position" and "embraces her sexuality to the shock of her husband". The tagline is "in a country torn by war, she was the most dangerous weapon of all."

From all this you might be mistaken into thinking that "The Devil's Whore" is a typical bodice-ripper / faux-historical melodrama, when it fact it is quite a tasteful period piece with a respectable, wholly sympathetic heroine who neither is nor does any of the things the blurb describes. Though there are a few instances in which historical license is taken, there is also a genuine sense of wanting to capture the key events of the English Civil War and integrate the fictional character of Angelica Fanshawe into the proceedings without compromising the authenticity of the piece.

Originally a four-part miniseries, which has here been spread across two discs without any noticeable breaks, "The Devil's Whore" alternates between two narratives: the life-story of Angelica Fanshawe (said to have been based on Anne Fanshawe, a memoirist who lived 1625 - 1680) and the English Civil War, following such recognizable figures as King Charles I, Oliver Cromwell, Thomas Rainsborough, John Lilburne and Edward Sexby. A good balance is maintained between the weighty historical events and Angelica's more glamorous tribulations, and she is incorporated successfully enough into the proceedings that you may find it easy to believe the film's (utterly false) claim that this is the "true" story of her life and times.

While still a child, Angelica Fanshawe's mother abandons her in order to become a nun in France, an occurrence that causes young Angelica to reject her faith and thus witness a vision of the devil that reoccurs throughout the series. On reaching womanhood, Angelica is happy enough to marry her childhood sweetheart (and cousin) Harry Fanshawe, but though he loves her dearly, he often feels emasculated by his spirited wife. It's her refusal to be subjugated that lands her husband in hot water with King Charles I, and soon Angelica finds herself negotiating a dangerous world on her own. She ends up rubbing shoulders with the likes of Oliver Cromwell and Thomas Rainsborough, unsure whether she's an ally or an enemy to them, as well as running from a past acquaintance with a vendetta against her. Her ultimate goal is to find a home and safety for herself, and despite the inclusion of no less than three love stories for her, each one has weight and poignancy, and provide Angelica with happiness and grief in equal measure.

Roughly spanning the years from 1638 to 1660 (to be more specific, the historical storyline begins with Charles' embarrassing attempt to arrest members of Parliament in 1642, complete with his famous "it would seem my birds have flown" comment and ends with Cromwell's death in 1658, though Angelica's story begins and ends slightly before and after these events) the miniseries takes us through the Civil War: the chaotic courtroom trials of "freeborn" John Lilburne, the battles between the Cavaliers and Roundheads, the tension between various sects of Catholics and Protestants, the execution of King Charles, and the power vacuum that follows.

It may help if you're familiar with the fundamentals of this time period, but even if you're not entirely sure what's going on, the film moves along briskly and entertainingly, making it easy to enjoy even if you can't follow every aspect. Though there are several deviations from historical record, there are also some nice little touches: the members of the crowd at the king's execution that dab their handkerchiefs in his blood, or the moles on Oliver Cromwell's face, or the presence of a small white poodle when Prince Rupert first appears.

There are some odd glitches: after introducing Prince Rupert, he disappears from the story entirely (perhaps his scenes were cut?) and Angelica's visions of the detail are never explained or elaborated upon, but as is to be expected, the visuals are stunning. Filmed in South Africa (which now bears more of a resemblance to 17th century England than the modern-day England countryside does), the vistas are huge in scope, creating a striking backdrop for elaborate costumes and sets.

The cast is top-notch. Andrea Riseborough (who at times bears an uncanny resemblance to Eva Green) is the high-light, simultaneously strong yet vulnerable, warm yet unattainable, and with an air of otherworldliness that makes it easy to see why she fascinates so many men. Despite the moniker "devil's whore" that is ascribed to her throughout the story, it is her name that reveals her true nature: more angel than devil, she carries the film with the help of a strong supporting cast.

Dominic West is a strikingly charismatic and dominating as Oliver Cromwell, walking the fine line between sincere idealism and self-justified tyranny, and Michael Fassbender (appearing before his big break in Hollywood) is Thomas Rainsborough, a tragic foil to Cromwell. Peter Capaldi is excellent as usual as King Charles, a gentle-yet-proud man who slowly crumbles over the course of his story-arc, and the likes of Tim McInnerny, Tom Goodman-Hill and Harry Lloyd (whose names may not be familiar, but who pop up everywhere in British television) play small but crucial parts. Also noteworthy is the fact that the wife of John Lilburne (as played by Maxine Peake) is given significant screen-time and development; a worthy addition considering that she was a fascinating figure in her own right, despite often being overshadowed by her famous husband.

Out of all the cast, the portrayal of Edward Sexby is probably most unlike his real-life counterpart (in appearance, personality and biography), but it's hard not to enjoy John Simm's embittered, war-scarred mercenary, a man who initially seems to enjoy bloodshed and who is unmoved by the ideals of those around him, only to gradually embrace a sense of personal conviction, driven almost entirely by his devotion to Angelica.

The American release of "The Devil's Whore" goes by the slightly-less provocative title of "The Devil's Mistress" (which makes little sense in context), but both the title and the blurb give the impression of a much darker and grimmer viewing experience than it really is. The sex scenes and gore is non-gratuitous, and though there are a couple of attempted rapes, both are thwarted at the last minute. It's impossible to gauge just how sensitive each individual viewer will be when dealing with this material, but don't be put off by the title. "The Devil's Whore" is a memorable and enjoyable period-drama, with an intriguing heroine and a story that manages to balance out Angelica's fictional tale with the historical events of the time.

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