W.E

Today I have been to see W.E

Madonna turns director to explore one of the of the 20th century's greatest love stories.

In 1936, the love affair between King Edward VIII (James D'Arcy) and American divorcee Wallis Simpson (Andrea Riseborough) scandalises England and sparks a constitutional crisis. Ultimately, Edward abdicates the throne to be with the woman he loves and the couple become the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Six decades later in 1998 the big news in Manhattan is the auction of the Duke and Duchess's estate. This has a very personal significance for Wally Winthrop (Abbie Cornish), who is trapped in a privileged but unhappy marriage. As Wally learns more about the sacrifices Wallis made for love, she becomes emboldened to make crucial changes in her own life. Skilfully intertwining the lives of these two women separated in time by more than 60 years, Madonna reveals universal truths about the search for love and happiness.