Danish screenwriter and director Nikolaj Arcel's fourth feature film which he co-wrote with Danish screenwriter Rasmus Heisterberg, is based on the novel "Prinsesse af blodet" from 2000 by Danish author Bodil Steensen-Leth and somewhat inspired by the novel "The Visit of the Royal Physician" from 1999 by Swedish author Per Olov Enquist. It premiered In competition at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival in 2012, was shot on locations in the Czech Republic and Germany and is a Denmark-Sweden-Czech Republic-Germany co-production which was produced by Danish producers Meta Louise Foldager, Louise Vesth and Sisse Graum Jørgensen. It tells the story about Caroline Mathilde, a young woman who leaves her family in Britain and marries her cousin king Christian VII of Denmark. Though becoming aware that her husband is mentally ill Caroline remains loyal to her partner, but when a German doctor named Johann Friedrich Struensee is hired as the royal physician to the monarch she is invigorated by his controversial views and a new passion is awakened in her.
Finely and engagingly directed by Danish filmmaker Nikolaj Arcel, this finely tuned and somewhat fictional tale which is narrated by the main character and mostly from her point of view, draws a mindful and gripping portrayal of the relations between a king, a queen and a German physician during the age of enlightenment in the late 18th century. While notable for its naturalistic and atmospheric milieu depictions, stellar cinematography by Danish cinematographer Rasmus Videbæk, production design by Danish production designer Niels Sejer, costume design by Danish costume designer Manon Rasmussen and use of colors and light, this dialog-driven and narrative-driven story which is inspired by real events and which is brilliantly narrated from multiple viewpoints, examines themes like friendship, love, betrayal, class distinctions and contradicting ideals, depicts three dense and merging studies of character and contains a good and timely score by Lebanese composer Gabriel Yared and French composer Cyrille Aufort.
This political, historic, romantic, at times humorous and intriguing period piece about the experiences of the young queen Caroline Mathilde of Denmark and Norway who also was a member of the royal British family and her passionate relationship with regent Johann Friedrich Struensee, which was chosen as Denmark's submission to the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 85th Academy Awards in 2013, is impelled and reinforced by its cogent narrative structure, quick-witted dialog, emphatic and poignant acting performances by Swedish actress Alicia Vikander, Danish actors Mads Mikkelsen and Mikkel Boe Følsgaard in his debut feature film role and the fine supporting acting performances by Danish actress Trine Dyrholm and Swedish actor David Dencik. A heartrending and commendable Danish epic about social conflict and royal intrigue which gained the Silver Bear for Best Actor Mikkel Boe Følsgaard and Best Script Nikolaj Arcel and Rasmus Heisterberg at the 62nd Berlin Film Festival in 2012.
Storyline
In 1767, the British Princess Caroline is betrothed to the mad King Christian VII of Denmark, but her life with the erratic monarch in the oppressive country becomes an isolating misery. However, Christian soon gains a fast companion with the German Dr. Johann Struensee, a quietly idealistic man of the Enlightenment. As the only one who can influence the King, Struensee is able to begin sweeping enlightened reforms of Denmark through Christian even as Caroline falls for the doctor. However, their secret affair proves a tragic mistake that their conservative enemies use to their advantage in a conflict that threatens to claim more than just the lovers as their victims.
Watch A Royal Affair (2012) : Full Length A young queen falls in love with her physician, and they start a revolution that changes their nation forever.
Release Date : Mar 29, 2012
Runtime : 137 minutes
Genres : Drama, History, Romance
Production Company : Zentropa Entertainments, Film i Väst
Production Countries : Denmark
Casts : Mads Mikkelsen, David Dencik, Alicia Vikander, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, Trine Dyrholm, Thomas W. Gabrielsson, William Jøhnk Nielsen, Cyron Melville, Laura Bro, Bent Mejding, John Martinus
Plot Keywords : queen, royal family, secret love, doctor, christian vii, illegitimate child, reference to voltaire, coup d'état, danish history
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