En kongelig affære

Plot synopsis:
Princess Caroline Matilda of Great Britain is shown writing a letter to her children in which she professes to tell them the truth. In flashback, Caroline talks of England, as she was about to leave to marry Christian VII of Denmark. She is passionate about the arts and education, but when she arrives in Denmark she is told that many of her books are banned by the state. Christian is mentally ill and Caroline is unhappy in the marriage. She is soon pregnant with a son (Frederick VI of Denmark), but the couple grow far apart and the king stops visiting her bedroom.
The German doctor Johann Friedrich Struensee is recruited to work as the king's personal physician. Struensee is a man of the Enlightenment, greatly influenced by the writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. He keeps this secret from the state, who welcome him because his father is a well-known priest. King Christian takes a strong liking to Struensee and he becomes a close friend and confidant. When Struensee manages to inoculate Prince Frederick against a smallpox epidemic, he becomes greatly respected in the court. Christian has very little influence in the Privy Council, and the laws of the country are mostly decided by statesmen, but Struensee tells the king that he can have more power by "acting". The doctor begins writing speeches for the king which advocate his own progressive views, and several reforms are passed in Denmark.
Caroline and Struensee learn of their mutual interests and liberal views. They fall in love and begin an affair. When Caroline becomes pregnant, they protect themselves by convincing Christian to resume sleeping with her. As a result, Princess Louise Auguste is believed to be the king's daughter. Meanwhile, Struensee is appointed a Royal Adviser and eventually persuades Christian to assign him the right to pass any law, making him Denmark's de facto leader. His reforms include the abolition of censorship, the abolition of torture, and reducing the power of the aristocracy. The queen dowager, Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, notices the romance between Caroline and Struensee and their affair is revealed. Christian is initially angry, but he forgives his friend and states that they must carry on as if nothing had changed.
Juliana and the prominent statesman Ove Høegh-Guldberg are strongly against Struensee's reforms, while the Danish people also grow unhappy when it becomes clear an immoral foreigner has power over the country. Høegh-Guldberg incites a coup against him. Christian refuses to hand Struensee over to the people, but Høegh-Guldberg lies that the doctor and Caroline are planning to murder him and take control of Denmark. Christian thus allows Caroline to be arrested and taken to live in exile, while Struensee is sentenced to death. Christian issues a pardon, not wanting his friend to die, but Høegh-Guldberg keeps this from materialising in time and Struensee is beheaded. Høegh-Guldberg becomes Denmark's new de facto leader, and many of Struensee's reforms are overturned.
The film returns to Caroline writing the letter, where she reveals that she is dying of an illness. Ten years later, Prince Frederick and Princess Louise Auguste read the letter. On-screen text reveals that when he became king, Frederick returned to the reforming ways of Struensee.

Tags: insanity

Review:
Mad (or at least seriously disturbed) King Christian VII (Mikkel Folsgaard - superbe) marries 16 year old English princess Caroline (Alicia Vikander) who happens to be George III's sister).
The film expressively reminds the world once again about the illicit affair between Caroline Mathilde (Alicia Vikander), the beautiful Queen of Denmark, and the enlightened, German-born physician named Johann Struensee (Mads Mikkelsen).
Scheming behind the back of the wig-wearing, ignorant council, Caroline and Struensee use the gullible King for the sake of a greater good – they create many new and reformative laws, and using Christian's powerful, yet unstable hand they end up improving the whole land and its citizens' life, rushing Denmark towards the desired Enlightenment.As history so often shows, when there is the optimistic, hard-working side there must also be the pessimistic, mischievous one.
A fantastic film about a country whose history is seldom portrayed, A Royal Affair is a historical drama set in the latter half of the 18th century in Denmark.
In her loneliness she falls for the king's doctor, and they find they share not only amorous feelings for one another, but a passion for Enlightenment ideas and political reforms.There are a few caricatures in this movie that keep me from giving it a higher score: the reactionary forces are pure, unalloyed evil; the reformers are probably far more liberal in thinking than would have been possible in that era; and the preaching against established religion is a bit thick.
I saw this last night and its been on my mind a lot since then..What a fantastic movie!!, i went in with high expectations, as i had only read very positive things about it, and I was definitely not disappointed, what a beautiful, sad and touching story Great acting overall, mads Mikkelsen is always good, and this is one of his best roles in my opinion, Alicia wikander was beautiful as the young queen, but the real star of this movie has to be Mikkel Boe Følsgaard as Christian VII, Wow!!, what a great actor, his portrayal of the mentally ill king was superb, he really made me sympathize with Christian, he may have been of his nutter and mean at times, but deep down, I think he was a good guy, but he was a very insecure young man, who didn't know how to behave properly, and who couldn't deal with the obligation of being king, he was misunderstood, and I felt really bad for him at times, I really like the portrayal of the relationship between the King and struensee, they were really very good friends/companions, and struensee was like a father to Christian.The costumes were also beautiful, I love fashion in that period, and this movie had some beautiful clothes to dwell on.It was about time my country did a movie on our royal history, and now they have, and the outcome is better then i could have ever expected, just beautiful, Hollywood couldn't have done it better, as a Dane I take pride in our danish (royal)history.Go and see it!!, you wont be sorry.
"A Royal Affair" is a Danish/Swedish/Czech production about the reign of 18th century King Christian VII of Denmark, his Welsh wife and a German physician whose progressive ideas shake Denmark's conservative ruling class to its foundations.
I am not an unconditional fan of Mads Mikkelsen, but he really was strong and convincing in this role.And one could easily forgive the good doctor for falling in love with Queen Caroline, as portrayed by the lovely Alicia Vikander.And one even had sympathy for poor old Christian in the end.
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.
Alicia Vikander as the queen plays her two role quite well, whether it is the passion and stress that go with having a secret affair, or the audacity and charm that goes with fulfilling her royal duties.Finally, in my view, the movie is another bell ring to remind us that even Denmark, 300 years ago was a country consumed by religion and fear, and that there are always those who believe in such a way of life..
Based on historical fact and the Bodil Steensen-Leth novel 'Prinsesse af blodet' as adapted for the screen by Rasmus Heisterberg and writer/director Nikolaj Arcel, it blossoms from the opening touching moments to the grand and gory closure.The story can be summarized as follows: In 1767, the British Princess Caroline Mathilde (Alicia Vikander) is betrothed to the strange and deranged King Christian VII of Denmark (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard), but her life with the near bipolar monarch in the dank and dark kingdom becomes oppressive: Caroline is disliked by the dowager queen Juliane (Trine Dyrholm) and her confidant Ove Høegh-Guldberg (David Dencik) who both would prefer Christian be de-throned, and Caroline must submit to the somewhat distracted and loony acting king on her first night in the palace - but the king's interest soon lags for want of prostitutes and frivolous parties.
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.The cast is extraordinarily fine, not only the three main characters (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard finds just the right delicate balance for Christian's moments of sanity and flights of lunacy) but all members of the court and the masses of people living in the last country to move into the age of equality of all peoples.
Mads Mikkelsen is great as usual, irrespective of the role, but the biggest surprise to me was Mikkel Følsgaard (as Christian VII) - I had never heard about him before; as he managed to win the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the Berlin Film Festival, I am sure he will be used often both in Denmark and internationally.
The film takes place in Denmark during the mid 18th century as we are introduced to the young queen, Caroline Mathilde (Alicia Vikander), from Britain who is to be married with the Danish King, Christian VII (Mikkel Boe Folsgaard).
Struensee uses his very influential position to institute radically progressive policies which eventually revolutionizes Denmark society.Needless to say, this is the first time I have ever seen anything about Danish history, so I was enraptured -- not really about the affair, but more about the interesting stories of political machinations and social reformation told in this very fine film.
At the end, the audience does not feel for either Vikander and Mikkelsen and while both actors should be blamed, a burden should be attributed to the director Arcel, by not being able to exploit the most at his disposals."A Royal Affair" is really a historical film about a time in the late 1700s when people are starting to challenge the status quo, the introduction of science, questioning of the Church and all of these leading to the times of being in the middle of the age of enlightenment.
Nikolaj Arcel) A superb historical drama set in the 18th century court of Danish King Christian VII, and focuses on the affair between the king's wife, Caroline Matilda of Wales, and the eminent social reformer, Dr. Johann Struensee.
Well, it's that, and actually a lot more, with Danish filmmaker Nikolaj Arcel taking a look back in the history of the country in the 18th Century, under the rule of King Christian VII (Mikkel Boe Folsgaard), a volatile man for his rumoured mental illness, told from the view of his Queen Caroline Mathilde (Alicia Vikander) from England, which inevitably covered the titular affair with the Royal Physician Johann Friedrich Struensee (Mads Mikkelsen), a German seen to be wielding too much influence on both the King, Queen, and his hundreds of reforms introduced by being de-facto regent.If focused alone on the affair, then we'd see how Caroline, promising and every bit the lady a Queen ought to be, got quickly put in her place quite unceremoniously by none other than her King and husband, and a rather public one at that.
In comes Johann from one of King Christian VII's European tours, with whom he shares a trusted bonding with since he's able to address, at times pander, but most times handle, the King's mood swings and erratic behaviour, and soon enough Johann's attention and mutual attraction with the Queen, led to a very physical affair that would be exposed once she got pregnant.For those not interested in bedroom stories, this sprawling epic also covers the requisite power struggles within any royal household, with tales of jealousy, greed, and that of ineptness and corruption all rolled into one.
And rounding up the key trio in the film is Mikkel Boe Folsgaard as King Christian VII, an almost man-boy king of sorts who prefers to play than to rule, and is often tethering on the edge of some crazed, illogical behaviour.With lush production sets, costumes and art direction, requisite essentials for any period movie, all combining perfectly to make it one enjoyable blast from the past, A Royal Affair proved to be a wonderful retelling of the political scene of the time, led by self-interests, the protection of one's turf, the constant lying and scheming for power by the inept, and betrayal all rolled into one.
It explores a scandalous affair between German physician, Johann Friedrich Struensee (Mads Mikkelsen) and the Queen of Denmark, Caroline Mathilde (Alicia Vikander).When the main story begins; both protagonists are left-wing progressives living in authoritarian, repressive times that precede the French Revolution.As a gesture of political union, young Caroline leaves England to marry King Christian VII of Denmark.
Soon she resigns to fate, believing her calling in life is reduced to carrying the bloodline for Danish monarch until Struensee enters the royal scene.Emboldened by his adventurous spirit and intellectual views, both Christian and Caroline connect with Struensee—thus setting in motion a chain of reforms that shake the country's cabinet and people.
A young princess, Caroline Matilda (Alicia Vikander), lived an affluent lifestyle in 1760s England and at age 15 she was shipped off to Denmark to marry King Christian VII (Mikkel Folsgaard).
When it comes to Oscar nominations it is highly unlikely he'll get a look in and will have to be content with British and European gongs, but in the Academy Awards' Best Foreign Picture category either one of his films is very likely to earn a nomination; the current opinion being that this film will clinch the deal ahead of the more challenging Jagten.In the eighteenth century, the Prince of Wales' youngest daughter, Princess Caroline Matilda (Alicia Vikander), was married off to her cousin, the Danish King Christian VII (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard).
With the arrival of the King's new physician, Johann Friedrich Struensee (Mikkelson), Caroline's life opened up to the possibilities of love and political influence.Largely historically accurate, though somebody decided to ignore Caroline's penchant for transvestism and the final scene has been attenuated, A Royal Affair is a fascinating insight into the Machiavellian goings-on behind royal doors and could easily be dismissed as a fine fiction were it not a matter of historical fact.Vikander's portrayal of the princess is as sensitive as her performance in Anna Karenina, and one's feelings towards Caroline evolve from pity to admiration as she acknowledges her fate and then challenges it to a duel, refusing to be harangued by her husband's council but understanding that he is incapable of protecting her from them.
And thus the machinations begin to wrest control away from Christian, to divide him from both Caroline and the doctor, and to return Denmark to the Middle Ages.Of the three characters, it is the king who is the most intriguing, yet director Nikolaj Arcel gives us almost nothing regarding the character's intentions, makeup, wants, likes, and so on.
Struensee's influence in court grows, but he finds himself caught up in a dangerous love affair with the Queen that could mean both of their heads should they be discovered.This being 18th century Denmark, the King is surrounded by a council of religious old men looking to keep the country firmly in the Dark Ages.
A Royal Affair was a prestigious costume drama that works as a political drama as well as a tale of forbidden love and with its director Nikolaj Arcel and star Alicia Vikander becoming successful afterwards.Caroline Matilda of Great Britain (Vikander) is a British Princess who was betrothed to the insane King of Denmark, Christian VII (Mikkel Følsgaard) a man who acts like a child and has an unmanageable temper.
However, Caroline and Denmark's fortunes improve when Johann Friedrich Struensee (Mads Mikkelsen), a man of the Enlightenment, is hired to be King's physician and using his influence sets out to reform Denmark and make the nation into a beacon for the rest of Europe.A Royal Affair is a lavish looking production, having fantastic costumes and settings, being filmed on location in Copenhagen.
He was the anchor of the film.A Royal Affair is a lavish production and fantastically acted, especially from Mikkelsen and Vikander and it detailed look in Denmark's history.
Based on true events, this film depicts the life and marriage of the Danish King Christian VII with the British princess Carolina Matilde, and her love affair with the court physician Dr. Struensee.
The cast is headed by Alicia Vikander, Mads Mikkelsen and Mikkel Boe Følsgaard.Royal weddings have always been source of controversy throughout history, mixing romance with politics or, most often, completely excluding love and giving rise to numerous extramarital affairs with the children that resulted from them.
Nominated for best foreign movie Oscar, this Danish film revolves around the eighteenth century love story between Queen Caroline Mathilde, married to the mad King Christian VII of Denmark, and the court's German doctor Johann Struensee, father to the queen's second child Princess Louise Auguste.
Like her fellow Swede Greta Garbo, the camera just loves Vikander and we are going to see a lot of her in future.Based on fact, "A Royal Affair" is the story of how, in the late 18th century, the British Princess Caroline Mathilde (Vikander) is the subject of an arranged marriage to the Danish King Christian VII (a first film role for Mikkel Boe Følsgaard), both of whom find themselves embroiled with an older German doctor called Johann Friedrich Struensee (former Bond baddie Mads Mikkelsen).
It is set in the late 1700's and tells the factual story of King Christian VII (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard), his wife Caroline Mathilde (Alicia Vikander), and the King's physician Johann Fredrich Struensee (Mads Mikkelsen).
However, it is not really like any of these other movies for one thing the story (based on true events) is slightly more unusual and the handling of it more atmospherically gloomy; for another, the film is actually by far the best of its type in recent memory.In the 18th century, young English princess Caroline Mathilde (Alicia Vikander) is offered as the bride to Danish monarch Christian VII (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard) in a bid to strengthen relations between the two nations.
Denmark was ruled by (another) insane king named Christian VII (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard) who took more interest in his dogs and in prostitutes than in his young, beautiful and English wife Caroline Mathilde (the superb Swede actress Alicia Vikander).
It's amusing, informative, and long.Dr. Johann Friedrich Struensee (Mads Mikkelsen) is a common doc who has the fortune, both good and bad, to become the King of Denmark's personal surgeon, seduce the Brit-born Queen, Caroline Mathilde (Alicia Vikander), and have a child with her.
A British princess got married to the mad Danish king and soon she and the court doctor that besides it had real political power to rule the country and making lots of enlightened reforms fell in love with each other.
A historical lesson from a period drama about the age of the Enlightenment in Denmark, a national revolution conducted by a German foreigner Dr. Johann Struensee (Mikkelsen) and his romantic involvement with Caroline Mathilde (Vikander), the Queen of King Christian VII (Boe Følsgaard), another exemplar of how arranged marriage really sucks!