W.E. is a complex romantic drama that intertwines two love stories. One is the famous love story between Wallis Simpson (Andrea Risenborough) and King Edward VIII (James D’Arcy) and focuses on the mid 1930s. This is the woman, a twice -divorced American socialite, who caused Edward VIII the King of England to abdicate his throne to marry her and in doing so raised the ire of the entire world. The story, told through flashbacks is a very intimate, historically accurate and visually exquisite glimpse of their jet set and very public life. The second is the story of a relatively obscure, privileged New Yorker, a young woman Wally Winthrop (Abbie Cornish), who lives a very privileged, unhappy life as the wife of a celebrity ‘shrink’ (Richard Coyle). What could these two stories possibly have in common?

Wally Winthrop is not the easiest woman to feel sympathy for, rather like Wallis Simpson. She lives a very upscale life in NYC’s tony upper eastside, is young and very attractive, and has a handsome, well to do husband. What could she have to complain about? In truth we discover she lives in a gilded cage. Her husband controls any money she might have access to, she is not allowed to question his activities, he strongly disapproves of her having a job and he is a philanderer. Wally is frequently abandoned. She desperately wants to have a baby, which again becomes an issue of discord. Richard is not prepared to become a father and the very idea of sex for procreation makes him impotent. Wally is trapped in her circumstances and as a means of escape becomes obsessed with the story of Wallis Simpson after whom she was named.

We enter the story just as Sotheby’s is about to action the personal possessions of the late Duke of Windsor, former King of England and Wallis Simpson. Wally Winthrop is mesmerized by the contents of the auction and daydreams her own unhappy situation into a strange and riveting relationship with Wallis Simpson. Ultimately this strange obsession will save Wally and help her to escape from a ruinous personal fate. On her journey to learning everything she can about Wallis Simpson she discovers that even the greatest loves are not necessarily a ‘happily ever after’ story. Love demands sacrifice.

Madonna has taken a fresh look at an extraordinary love story. She has irreverently exposed the society that tried to destroy Wallis and Edward. She has also exposed the truth of our own society – that inequalities in love exist right here in our enlightened, modern day. They may not be always living on the upper eastside but there are plenty of women who have found that love can cost them the freedoms possibly essential to their happiness.