A Royal Affair :
When you took a glance at the films that were to open in 2012 it’s highly unlikely that you picked Danish film A Royal Affair to be one of the highlights, yet that is exactly what has happened. The screenwriters behind this film are also the people responsible for the original Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and once again they put their screenwriting skills out there for all to see.
A Royal Affair is based on a novel by Bodin Steensen-Leth and tells the story of Caroline Mathilde (Alicia Vikander – The Crown Jewels, Pure) a young English princess who is taken to Denmark to marry the ‘mentally unstable’ King Christian VII (Mikkel Folsgaard – TV’S Those Who Kill & Bryggeren).
Trapped in a loveless marriage Caroline finds herself attracted to the royal physician, Johann Friedrich Struensee (Mads Mikkelsen – The Hunt, The Three Musketeers) who has actually been placed in the palace by the likes of Rantzau (Thomas W. Gabrielsson – TV’S Akta Manniskor & Maria Wern) and Brandt (Cyron bjorn Melville – Sidste Skud, Peaceforce) in a bid to convince the King to turn has back on some of Denmark’s rules of the Dark Ages and embrace the Time Of Enlightenment.
On paper the plot doesn’t sound that stimulating but director Nikolaj Arcel (Truth About Men, Island Of Lost Souls) makes sure that A Royal Affair completely wraps its audience up to a point where you can’t help but yourself emotionally involved with the film.
The story does contain its fair share of lust and passion but also fraud and a fair piece of treachery make for a story that at time borders more on becoming a period-thriller rather than a period-drama. It seems these days that the Danish are absolute kings of making films of pure suspense… and A Royal Affair is no different.
The film is also enhanced by a surprisingly strong cast. As usual Mads Mikkelsen is at the top of his game but he is supported well by two relative newcomers. Alicia Vikander is called upon to deliver both Danish and English lines and does both with ease while Danish TV actor Mikkel Folsgaard explodes onto the scene with such a brilliant portrayal of the ‘mad king’ that you would expect he should pick up a couple of awards along the way.
A Royal Affair is a dramatic thriller that proves that period-style films don’t necessarily have to be snoozefest. A stunning release from the Danish!
Year: 2012
Director: Nikolaj Arcel
Stars: Mads Mikkelsen, Mikkel Folsgaard, Alicia Vikander, Thomas W. Gabrielsson, Cyron Bjorn Melville
Classification: M
Runtime: 138 mins
Rating:
