Directed by Michael Radford
White Mischief is a lavish, darkly sensuous period drama rooted in true events—a scandalous murder among British aristocrats living in 1940s colonial Kenya. Based on James Fox’s nonfiction book, the film explores a hedonistic world where idle wealth, infidelity, and reckless pleasure collide with violent consequences.
The story centers on Diana Broughton (Greta Scacchi), a young, beautiful socialite who arrives in Kenya with her much older husband Sir Jock Broughton (Joss Ackland), hoping for a new beginning. Instead, she becomes drawn into the decadent “Happy Valley” set—an elite group of British expatriates known for their debauchery and moral disregard. There, she begins an affair with the charismatic and notoriously promiscuous Earl of Erroll (Charles Dance). When Erroll is found murdered, suspicion looms, secrets surface, and the film transforms into a sultry whodunit.
Greta Scacchi delivers a luminous, layered performance as Diana, torn between security and passion. Charles Dance brings a perfect blend of charm and danger to the role of Erroll, while Joss Ackland captures the quiet devastation of a man gradually aware he’s losing control of his wife—and perhaps his life. The supporting cast, including Sarah Miles and John Hurt, adds richness to the swirling chaos of privilege and scandal.
Director Michael Radford bathes the film in sun-soaked cinematography and a dreamy, decadent atmosphere, capturing the stunning landscapes of Kenya while subtly commenting on the emptiness beneath the colonial glamour. Beneath the beauty lies a corrosive sense of rot—of a society too idle, too spoiled, and too detached from consequence.
At its heart, White Mischief is about obsession, repression, and the cost of emotional recklessness. It examines the fallout of unchecked desire within a privileged world spiraling toward its own moral collapse. Stylish, seductive, and quietly tragic, the film is a haunting exploration of real-life scandal dressed in the finery of period drama.
For those drawn to intrigue, elegance, and slow-burning psychological drama, White Mischief offers a visually stunning and emotionally chilling descent into paradise lost.
