In 1993, the story of billionaire tobacco heiress Doris Duke and her gay, Irish butler Bernard Lafferty created a flood of tabloid headlines after her will made him into a millionaire. But was it an act of love, or could she have been manipulated, or worse? This semi-fictionalised account of the pair's relationship turns their unlikely friendship into an impressive, if sluggish, showcase for Susan Sarandon and Ralph Fiennes. Bonding over their shared sense of profound unhappiness, Doris lets Bernard evolve from starched servant to flamboyant, ponytailed housemate. As her health fails, she relies on him as her confidant, nurse and advisor: "What do you want from me?" she demands. "I just want to take care of you..." That we're never quite sure how honest that statement is leaves this slow-burning drama feeling only half-complete. Did the butler do it or not?

Tobacco heiress Doris Duke develops an unlikely friendship with her butler, Bernard Lafferty.