En kongelig affære
Director: Nikolaj Arcel
Writer: Rasmus Heisterberg, Nikolaj Arcel
Based on: Bodil Steensen-Leth’s novel Prinsesse af blodet
Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, Alicia Vikander, David Dencik, Trine Dyrholm, Thomas W. Gabrielsson, Laura Bro, Cyron Bjørn Melville

Plot:
Princess Caroline Mathilde (Alicia Vikander) gets married to King Christian (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard) and is sent from England to Denmark. When the two of them meet for the first time, Caroline quickly realizes that Christian is quite mad. Understandably, marital bliss is not forthcoming and the situation only relaxes a little bit when Christian starts traveling. During his trip he finds a new doctor, companion, guard and friend in Johann Struensee (Mads Mikkelsen) and brings him back home. When Struensee and Caroline meet, they connect over their revolutionary political views – a fact that changes Denmark drastically.

This film is pretty damn fantastic. Mikkel Boe Følsgaard is really good, the history is interesting but it mostly lives off the amazing chemistry that Mads Mikkelsen and Alicia Vikander have together and the way the relationship between Caroline and Johann is build. It was just brilliant to watch.

It’s no secret that Mads Mikkelsen is one hell of a sexy bastard. But period dresses and long hair can be quite detrimental. Also, 18th century courtship is usually not that hot. But in this film they build up Johann and Caroline’s relationship so incredibly well – starting with their intellectual connection – that when there’s that final spark (and in a dance scene no less), the sexual tension is so thick that you’re practically on fire yourself. And that usually really doesn’t happen just from some 18th century dancing.

Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that I loved how their relationship was written and how Mads Mikkelsen and Alicia Vikander really made it work.

But I did also like the rest of the film. Mikkel Boe Følsgaard makes for a great – and very crazy – Christian. And Christian’s relationship with Johann was also done perfectly, in all its rather ugly shades of grey.

Plus, the politics were quite interesting. I don’t know anything about that period, so I can’t say how much of it is accurate but it definitely makes for a good story that only sometimes runs the teensiest bit too long. But that only means more time to look at Mads Mikkelsen, so that’s alright.

Summarising: If you want a period drama, this is for you.