A Royal Affair (2012) En kongelig affære (original title)

Director:

Nikolaj Arcel

Writers:

Bodil Steensen-Leth (novel)
Rasmus Heisterberg (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

29 March 2012 (Denmark)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance

Tagline:

They changed a nation forever

Plot:

A young queen, who is married to an insane king, falls secretly in love with her physician - and together they start a revolution that changes a nation forever.

Plot Keywords:

King | Queen | Man In Bath | Dead Man | Passionate Kiss

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 18 wins & 26 nominations

Cast

Alicia Vikander	...	Caroline Mathilde
Mads Mikkelsen	...	Johann Friedrich Struensee
Mikkel Boe Følsgaard	...	Christian VII
Trine Dyrholm	...	Juliane Marie
David Dencik	...	Ove Høegh-Guldberg
Thomas W. Gabrielsson	...	Schack Carl Rantzau
Cyron Melville	...	Enevold Brandt (as Cyron Bjørn Melville)
Bent Mejding	...	J. H. E. Bernstoff
Harriet Walter	...	Augusta - Princess of Wales
Laura Bro	...	Louise von Plessen
Søren Malling	...	Hartmann
Jakob Ulrik Lohmann	...	Juliane's Officer
Søren Spanning	...	Munter
Frederik Christian Johansen	...	Arveprinsen
John Martinus	...	Reventlow
Rosalinde Mynster	...	Marie
Nikol Kouklová	...	Stovlet-Catherine
Egob Nielsen	...	Mounti
Michaela Horká	...	Bordelmutter
Alzbeta Jenická	...	Bondekone
Anna Stiborová	...	Sophie Livernet
William Jøhnk Nielsen	...	Frederik VI (15 yrs) (as William Jøhnk Juel Nielsen)
Julia Wentzel Olsen	...	Louise Augusta - 12 yrs
Frank Rubæk	...	Minister
Klaus Tange	...	Minister
Petr Janis	...	Minister
Karin Rørbeck	...	Juliane's Lady in Waiting
Josefine Højbjerg Bitsch	...	Juliane's ladies-in-waitng
Zinnini Elkington	...	Rantzau's Maid
Morten Holst	...	Lord Chamberlain
Karel Polisenský	...	Old Doctor
Eva Sitta	...	English Lady-in-waiting
Ivan G'Vera	...	German Doctor
Kristian Fjord	...	The Fidget
Daniel Bambas	...	Hamlet
Tereza Terberova	...	Caroline's housemaid
Jan Krafka	...	Nightwatcher
Peter Varga	...	Nightwatcher
Ivan Vodochodský	...	Noble Gentleman
Lukas Kral	...	Officer
Nora Rajnochova	...	Prostitute
Jakub Albrecht	...	Doctor - smallpox
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kenneth M. Christensen	...	(voice)
Erika Guntherová	...	Hofdame
Mads Hjulmand	...	Hamlet Actor (voice)

Directed by
Nikolaj Arcel

Writing credits
Bodil Steensen-Leth		(novel "Prinsesse af blodet")
Rasmus Heisterberg		(screenplay) and
Nikolaj Arcel		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jessica Ask	....	co-producer
Karen Bentzon	....	line producer
Gillian Berrie	....	co-producer
Anna Duffield	....	co-producer
Madeleine Ekman	....	co-producer
Meta Louise Foldager	....	producer
Peter Garde	....	executive producer
Peter Aalbæk Jensen	....	executive producer
Sisse Graum Jørgensen	....	producer
Kristina Kornum	....	line producer
Maria Köpf	....	co-producer
Elin Lennartsson	....	line producer: Sweden
Pavel Muller	....	co-producer
Pavel Muller	....	line producer
René Nielsen	....	assistant producer
Charlotte Pedersen	....	associate producer
Martin Persson	....	co-producer
Louise Vesth	....	producer
Lars von Trier	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Cyrille Aufort
Gabriel Yared

Cinematography by
Rasmus Videbæk

Film Editing by
Kasper Leick
Mikkel E.G. Nielsen

Casting by
Leo Davis

Production Design by
Niels Sejer

Costume Design by
Manon Rasmussen

Makeup Department
Linda Eisenhamerova	....	makeup artist (hair stylist) (as Linda Dvorakova)
Judith Kröher	....	additional makeup artist
Billie Rüse	....	additional makeup artist
Bobo Sobotka	....	additional makeup artist
Ivo Strangmüller	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Dorissa Berninger	....	production manager
Søren Frimodt-Møller	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kathleen Hänisch	....	additional second assistant director
Matej Les	....	third assistant director
Martin Pavlacky	....	second assistant director
Tomas Pavlacky	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Anders Huulgaard	....	storyboard artist
Jiri Macke	....	property master
Veronika Skorepova	....	art department coordinator

Sound Department
Hans Christian Arnt Torp	....	post-production sound recordist
Katharina Bormann	....	post sound facility coordinator
Petr Cechák	....	production sound mixer
Hans Christian Kock	....	sound designer and re-recording mixer
Claus Lynge	....	sound designer and re-recording mixer
Roman Rigo	....	boom operator
James Shannon	....	dolby sound consultant

Visual Effects by
Jeppe N. Christensen	....	visual effects supervisor
Tinko Dimov	....	visual effects artist
Alexander Eriksson	....	digital compositor: Ghost VFX
Jonny Gu	....	digital compositor
Martin Holm-Grevy	....	digital artist
Ivan Kondrup Jensen	....	visual effects artist
Rikke Hovgaard Jørgensen	....	visual effects producer
Georgi Karantilski	....	digital compositor
Claus Nicholas Nielsen	....	matte painter
Thijs Noij	....	digital compositor
Liubomir Savov	....	visual effects artist
Svetoslav Savov	....	visual effects artist
Esben Syberg	....	visual effects supervisor
Jonas Ussing	....	digital compositor
Jorge Vidal	....	digital compositor
Mikael Widegren	....	lead matte painter
Oliver Wolff	....	digital compositor
Claus Toksvig Kjaer	....	visual effects coordinator (uncredited)

Stunts
Roman Spacil	....	swordmaster

Camera and Electrical Department
Václav Cermak	....	gaffer
Ingo Gardner	....	balloon light technician
Michal Krbecek	....	second assistant camera
Frantisek Novák	....	first assistant camera
Alexander Surkala	....	director of photography: second unit

Casting Department
Tanja Grunwald	....	casting
Arwa Salmanova	....	casting associate: Czech Republic

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Monika Jordan	....	wardrobe
Maika Schörbel	....	additional wardrobe
Lena Tajerova	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Sune F. Andersen	....	additional editing
Morten Sylvest Arnoldus	....	post-production coordinator
Jesper Bækdal	....	assistant editor
Lárus Ren Gudbjörnsson	....	first assistant editor
Sascha Alexander Haber	....	visual effects technical colorist
Anders Albjerg Kristiansen	....	additional editor
Mikael Reidar	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Jean-Pierre Arquie	....	score coordinator
Jean-Pierre Arquie	....	supervision of the recording sessions
Nicolas Koch Futtrup	....	music supervisor (as Nicolas Koch)
Peter Juul Kristensen	....	score mixer
Peter Juul Kristensen	....	score recordist
Mikkel Maltha	....	music supervisor
Marie Sabbah	....	composer agent

Transportation Department
Tom Strelow	....	production driver
Pavel Voracek	....	transport co-ordinator

Other crew
Gero Brugmann	....	legal counsel: completion guarantor
Ronny Engel	....	production coordinator
Roberto Geroldi	....	production secretary
Burkart Hofmann	....	traffic blocker
Hans Lönnerheden	....	completition bond
Radim Macha	....	horse master
Dusan Matic	....	extras coordinator
Line Plougsbæk	....	assistant: producer
Kirsty Rigg	....	dialogue coach
Anders Wøldike Schmith	....	p.a. to producer
Sören von der Heyde	....	location manager
Lars von Trier	....	script supervisor
Niclas Caroc Warner	....	assistant: producer

Production Companies

• Zentropa Entertainments
• DR TV
• Trollhättan Film AB
• Film i Väst (in co-production with)
• Sveriges Television (SVT)
• Sirena Film

Distributors

• First Distributors (2012) (Hong Kong) (all media)
• Aerofilms (2012) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Aerofilms (2012) (Slovakia) (theatrical)
• Albatros Film (2013) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Best Film (2012) (Poland) (theatrical)
• Cathay-Keris Films (2013) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Chrysalis Films (2012) (France) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2012) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Elite-Film (2012) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Estinfilm (2012) (Estonia) (theatrical)
• Filmladen (2012) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Golem Distribución (2012) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Hollywood Entertainment (2013) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Independent Film '97 (2012) (Romania) (theatrical)
• Jour2Fête (2012) (France) (theatrical)
• MFA Filmdistribution (2012) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Mares Filmes (2012) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• Nordisk Film Distribution (2010) (Denmark) (theatrical)
• Vertigo Média Kft. (2012) (Hungary) (theatrical)
• Wild Bunch Benelux (2012) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Wild Bunch Benelux (2012) (Luxembourg) (theatrical)
• Wild Bunch Benelux (2012) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2013) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2013) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Alambique Destilaria de Ideias Unipessoal (2013) (Portugal) (all media)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2012) (Switzerland) (all media)
• Calinos Entertainment (2012) (Turkey) (all media)
• Cinemania Group (2012) (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (all media)
• Cinemania Group (2012) (Croatia) (all media)
• Cinemania Group (2012) (Montenegro) (all media)
• Cinemania Group (2012) (Serbia) (all media)
• Cinemania Group (2012) (Slovenia) (all media)
• Cineplex Development (2012) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Lens Media (2012) (China) (all media)
• Madman Entertainment (2012) (Australia) (all media)
• Madman Entertainment (2012) (New Zealand) (all media)
• Magnolia Pictures (2012) (USA) (all media)
• Metrodome Distribution (2012) (Ireland) (all media)
• Metrodome Distribution (2012) (UK) (all media)
• Scanorama (2012) (Lithuania) (all media)
• Volga Film (2012) (Russia) (all media)

Other Companies

• Agentur Filmgesichter  extras casting: Dresden
• Det Danske Filminstitut  funding
• Eurimages  funding
• European Film Bonds,  completion bond company
• Film Music Services  composer's agency
• Film Security  location security
• Filmdienstleistungen  transportation coordination
• Kameraudlejningen  camera equipment provided by
• Mecon Media Concept  extras payroll
• Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (MDM)  funding
• MovieScore Media  soundtrack
• Nordisk Film- & TV-Fond  funding
• The Czech Republic State Fund for Support and Development of Cinematography  funding

Also Known As:

"En kongelig affære" - Denmark (original title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexual content and some violent images

Runtime:

137 min

Country:

Denmark | Sweden | Czech Republic

Language:

Danish | English | German | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Sweden:11 | Ireland:15A | UK:15 | Netherlands:12 | Denmark:11 | Australia:M | New Zealand:M | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | South Korea:18 | Japan:PG12 | Singapore:M18 | Hong Kong:IIB | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Hradcany Square, Hradcany, Prague, Czech Republic

Company:

Zentropa Entertainments

Trivia:

Denmark's official submission for the Foreign Language Film category of the 85th Academy Awards.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: While all of the characters all speak Danish in the film, the court language in Denmark at the time was actually German. In real life neither Count von Bernstorff nor Johann Struensee spoke any Danish, and it is more than likely that Christian and Caroline also conversed in German rather than the "people's language."

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 85th Oscars (2013) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Trio Sonata No. 6 in F Major: II. Allegro

A very satisfying period drama

Historically relevant, A Royal Affair shows its true period-drama nature in the very intelligent and detailed storyline, steadfast and conspicuous acting, and, most of all, sumptuous and glorious interiors, which actually enhance the visual experience significantly. 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). In all its courtly essence, A Royal Affair presents this 18th century tale with utmost thoroughness, adding huge amounts of tension to its naturalistic substance with every following minute. While it's mostly recognized for the meaningful romantic overtone, this film presents much more than that, even though the star-crossed lovers prove to have the biggest impact on the unexpected turn of events.

It starts very similarly to Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette, with a young princess bound to marry a king she doesn't even know, through the old-fashioned way of a royal transaction. Right after the Queen finally sets her lovely eyes on the mysterious husband-to-be one thing is certain – there is something wrong with his majestic appearance. Christian VII (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard) giggles nervously, and is more interested in greeting his own dog than the woman, with whom he will probably (but not likely) spend the rest of his palace life. Right after the both absolutely awkward and truly humorous announcement of King's nightly visit in his wife's bedroom, and Caroline's anxiously awaited pregnancy, it becomes perfectly clear that the pair won't present itself in the expected, regal way. Those two characters don't even intend to give the appearance of being fully in love with each other. The king wanders angrily around the luxurious chambers making fun of everyone, not knowing that he ostentatiously presents all of his biggest weaknesses. At the same time, the Queen spends most of her time with the newborn baby. When Christian proclaims his forthcoming trip around Europe nobody realizes that big and sudden changes are about to happen. During the journey King's mental illness becomes worse. He needs a private doctor and he needs him quick. This is the moment when Johan Struensee first shows his handsome face. Apart from his unquestionable medical abilities, he proves to be a great admirer of the Enlightenment movement's greatest thinkers and their innovative works, and that's what makes him an ideal partner for the King. After returning to the country, their companionship grows stronger every day. Unfortunately, so does Johan's affection towards Queen's awe-inspiring persona. After a while, it becomes awfully obvious that they won't be able to suppress their deepest urges and a risky romance will soon take place, one that might actually begin a new era in the history of Denmark. 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. In A Royal Affair, it takes the form of an ominous, recalcitrant aristocrat named Ove Høegh-Guldberg (David Dencik). Conspiring along with Christian's stepmother Juliane Marie (Trine Dyrholm) he comes up with a perfect plan to get rid of the unwanted German and, at the same time, bring back Denmark's old 'glory'. Revealing the shocking truth about Queen being pregnant with Struensee he wreaks havoc among the society. The return of the Dark Ages is upon Denmark, and no one is able to stop this devastating process, as the King gave in to Ove's strong and convincing character, and, ultimately, to his own illness. Johann and Caroline are banished from the Kingdom, just to see that, sadly, their thorough plan wasn't actually meant to help anyone.

With its splendidly high entertainment value, A Royal Affair turns out to be a history lesson for everyone. Considerable attention to details in plot and in art design brings out the true substance of the film. The costumes are pitch-perfect, the music flows adequately to the events, and the ongoing transition in the atmosphere intensifies the reception of the whole. A Royal Affair possesses a great energy, which shows its true strength in all the performances. Without offending anyone from the amazing cast, it's important to note that Mads Mikkelsen gave the most award-worthy performance, showing the straightforwardly persuasive impassiveness that may really convince his fans and anti-fans alike. Therefore, those irrefutable acting skills, combined with a well-written script and steady direction, make A Royal Affair one of the most memorable Danish movies of the last decade.