Our film, Devotion, uses and represents lots of different social groups. As our film is a period drama one of the main elements is the social class.
Billy Walters
Billy Walters is a young boy with hopes of courting Elizabeth Harding. Billy comes from a poor background which is represented through his character background, he grew up farm with his Aunt and Uncle as his mother and father tragically died when he was just born. His social class is also represented through his costume and language. The costume is basic, messy shirt, black trousers, tattered waistcoat and his hair is messy and unkempt. The way the character talks during the flashback sequences is colloquial and common although during the letter voice-over Billy tries hard to write well-spoken heart-felt letter which Elizabeth will appreciate in hopes that she begins to see him more as a gentleman (like Philip Jeffories) and less as a scruffy farm boy. We based Billy on the character Robbie Turner from Atonement, Robbie is the son of the Tallis family servant and he falls in love with the families daughter, Cecilia. Therefore Robbie would have had a similar background to Billy. Both the actors have dark brown hair and represent the stereotypical ''tall, dark and handsome'' male appearance which is common throughout period dramas.
Elizabeth Harding
The character Elizabeth is represented as a innocent young woman who currently lives an upper-class life with her fiancée, Philip Jeffories, living in his grand manor house, while she really wants to spend her life with Billy. Her parents approve of Philip's wealth and think that he will be able to give Elizabeth all she deserves while they look down upon Billy and his more simple lifestyle. It is apparent that Elizabeth finds it hard to be away from Billy and doesn't care about his social class.
The Maid
The audience don't find out much about the maids character. It is suggested however that she is practical, strong-minded and wise, for example, when Billy hands his letter over to the maid she tells him that Elizabeth isn't going to read it and he should stop daydreaming and waiting around for things that are not going to happen. The fact she asserts her authority over Billy suggests that her social class is similar as maid's in the regency era wouldn't dream of being so brash to social classes higher than themselves.
Philip Jeffories
Although you don't see Philip Jeffories in our opening sequence he is an high-class manor house owner. We imagined him to be a stereotypically wealthy, snobby, man who enjoys getting his own way. We took inspiration for his character from the rich gentlemen who live in grand manor houses with their large families in films such as, Atonement, Pride & Prejudice and the television dramas Downtown Abbey and Bleak House.
