Summary

Set against the dark underbelly of Victorian London, “The Crimson Petal and the White” is a tale of seduction, power and class conflict, centered around the vibrant prostitute Sugar (Romola Garai). Sugar is intelligent, sexually adept and determined to escape the brothel run by the contemptible Mrs. Castaway (Gillian Anderson). This beautifully filmed two-part drama takes a drastic turn when Sugar meets wealthy businessman William Rackham (Chris O’Dowd). As regular visits from the invasive physician Doctor Curlew leave his sickly wife (Amanda Hale) increasingly disturbed, William finds Sugar a thrilling antidote to his dreary existence. Separated by class and bound by sexuality and ambition, their relationship grows deeper yet more dangerous. As Sugar ingrains herself into William’s family business and charmed life, the two find themselves in a power struggle that ultimately reveals Sugar’s heroism.