Film: W.E.

W.E. tells the story of two fragile but determined women seperated by more than six decades. The film is one part biographical and one part fiction.

Wallis Simpson (played by Andrea Riseborough) was an American divorcee who found herself falling in love for King Edward VII. The feeling was mutual as David (King Edward VII, played by James D'Arcy) gave up the thrones of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the Commonwealth to be with her. In present day, Wally Winthrop (Abbie Cornish) struggles with a failing marriage while consumed with this true story of what she percieves to be the ultimate love story during the Sotheby's auction of their estate.

Criticized for jumping back and forth between both stories and times, the film explores a side of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor that is commonly overlooked. It was a huge political scandal and she was viewed as the cause for most, if not all, of it. She was percieved as a common whore who persuaded David away from the throne. W.E. on the other hand explores what Wallis gave up to be with him and the immense pressure she felt in a situation where she had no option but to be sure this was her forever due to the immense public exposure.

It is a story of extreme infatuation and beautifully captures that adventorous quality of Romance. An adventure where doubt and vulnerability battle against hope and love.

Co-Written and Directed by Madonna, the film was released in 2011 to commercial failure. But that hasn't stopped me from loving every minute of it. AND the soundtrack (both the official music and music featured in the film) have changed my life. It's a great example of how Romance can be both joyous and tragic.