In 1800s northwest England, the educated, privileged Philip (Sam Claflin) misses the fraternal bond with his cousin Ambrose, who raised the orphaned Philip from childhood. When Ambrose’s ailing health following his marriage to his half-Italian cousin named Rachel (Rachel Weisz) leads to his death, Philip is immediately suspicious of this “cousin Rachel” despite the fact that he, not Rachel, is made heir to Ambrose’s estate. Is Rachel really a cold-blooded gold-digger, or simply a grieving widow desiring financial freedom after the death of her beloved spouse? RelatedMichell brings emotional realism to Philip’s perspective, which ensconce the viewer into seeing situations like an innocent game of cribbage as downright threatening. Either way, My Cousin Rachel is a damning feminist critique of the status of women in 1800s England, one that demonstrates how the impulsive emotions of men can easily influence the direction of their lives.

Source: National Post June 08, 2017 20:26 UTC