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A Royal Affair

Original title: En kongelig affære
  • 20122012
  • RR
  • 2h 17m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
47K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,789
443
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
En kongelig affære (2012)
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.
Play trailer2:00
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • History

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.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.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.

IMDb RATING
7.5/10
47K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,789
443
  • Director
    • Nikolaj Arcel
  • Writers
    • Bodil Steensen-Leth(novel "Prinsesse af blodet")
    • Rasmus Heisterberg(screenplay)
    • Nikolaj Arcel(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Alicia Vikander
    • Mads Mikkelsen
    • Mikkel Boe Følsgaard
Top credits
  • Director
    • Nikolaj Arcel
  • Writers
    • Bodil Steensen-Leth(novel "Prinsesse af blodet")
    • Rasmus Heisterberg(screenplay)
    • Nikolaj Arcel(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Alicia Vikander
    • Mads Mikkelsen
    • Mikkel Boe Følsgaard
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 95User reviews
    • 231Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 21 wins & 42 nominations total

    Videos1

    No. 1
    Trailer 2:00
    No. 1

    Photos189

    Mads Mikkelsen and Mikkel Boe Følsgaard in En kongelig affære (2012)
    Mads Mikkelsen and Alicia Vikander in En kongelig affære (2012)
    Mads Mikkelsen and Alicia Vikander in En kongelig affære (2012)
    Alicia Vikander in En kongelig affære (2012)
    Mads Mikkelsen and Alicia Vikander in En kongelig affære (2012)
    Mads Mikkelsen and Alicia Vikander in En kongelig affære (2012)
    Mads Mikkelsen and Nikolaj Arcel in En kongelig affære (2012)
    Mads Mikkelsen in En kongelig affære (2012)
    Mads Mikkelsen and Alicia Vikander at an event for En kongelig affære (2012)
    Alicia Vikander at an event for En kongelig affære (2012)
    Alicia Vikander at an event for En kongelig affære (2012)
    En kongelig affære (2012)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Alicia Vikander
    Alicia Vikander
    • Caroline Mathildeas Caroline Mathilde
    Mads Mikkelsen
    Mads Mikkelsen
    • Johann Friedrich Struenseeas Johann Friedrich Struensee
    Mikkel Boe Følsgaard
    Mikkel Boe Følsgaard
    • Christian VIIas Christian VII
    Trine Dyrholm
    Trine Dyrholm
    • Juliane Marieas Juliane Marie
    David Dencik
    David Dencik
    • Ove Høegh-Guldbergas Ove Høegh-Guldberg
    Thomas W. Gabrielsson
    Thomas W. Gabrielsson
    • Schack Carl Rantzauas Schack Carl Rantzau
    Cyron Melville
    Cyron Melville
    • Enevold Brandtas Enevold Brandt
    • (as Cyron Bjørn Melville)
    Bent Mejding
    • J. H. E. Bernstoffas J. H. E. Bernstoff
    Harriet Walter
    Harriet Walter
    • Augusta - Princess of Walesas Augusta - Princess of Wales
    Laura Bro
    Laura Bro
    • Louise von Plessenas Louise von Plessen
    Søren Malling
    Søren Malling
    • Hartmannas Hartmann
    Jacob Lohmann
    Jacob Lohmann
    • Juliane's Officeras Juliane's Officer
    • (as Jakob Ulrik Lohmann)
    Søren Spanning
    • Munteras Munter
    Frederik Christian Johansen
    • Arveprinsenas Arveprinsen
    John Martinus
    • Reventlowas Reventlow
    Rosalinde Mynster
    • Marieas Marie
    Nikol Kouklová
    • Stovlet-Catherineas Stovlet-Catherine
    Eyob Nielsen
    • Mountias Mounti
    • (as Egob Nielsen)
    • Director
      • Nikolaj Arcel
    • Writers
      • Bodil Steensen-Leth(novel "Prinsesse af blodet")
      • Rasmus Heisterberg(screenplay)
      • Nikolaj Arcel(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    Alicia Vikander Through the Years

    Alicia Vikander Through the Years

    Take a look back at the career of Alicia Vikander on and off the big screen.
    View image
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    Storyline

    Edit
    In 1767, British Princess Caroline is betrothed to 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 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 to be 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. —Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com)
    • infidelity
    • insanity
    • denmark
    • enlightenment
    • king of denmark
    • 204 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • They changed a nation forever
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • History
      • Romance
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for sexual content and some violent images
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Swedish actress Alicia Vikander had to learn Danish. Vikander spent two months in Copenhagen in Denmark learning Danish prior to principal photography.
    • Goofs
      While all of the characters all speak Danish in the film, the court language in Denmark at the time was German. In real life neither Graf Bernstorff nor Johann Struensee spoke any Danish, and it is probable that Christian and Caroline also conversed in German rather than the "people's language." However, this is a movie made for a Danish audience. "Translating" the characters' speech to the language of the audience is in the same principle as Hollywood movies where Egyptian Pharaohs and Roman Emperors speak English.
    • Quotes

      Johann Friedrich Struensee: Your majesty.

      Caroline Mathilde: You recognized me.

      Johann Friedrich Struensee: I would recognize you blindfolded.

      Caroline Mathilde: But your costume is not very imaginative.

      Johann Friedrich Struensee: I'm afraid I'm not very good at the masquerade.

      Caroline Mathilde: I believe this is the one night when everyone can be themselves.

      [pause]

      Caroline Mathilde: But you never remove your mask. Do you?

    • Connections
      Featured in Maltin on Movies: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      Water Music, HWV 350, Suite No.3 in G Major (III. Minuet)
      Music by George Frideric Handel (as Georg Friedrich Händel)

      (P) Zentropa Music

    User reviews95

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Exquisitely made dramatic knockout
    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. An English girl is sent off to marry the Danish king, only to find out that he's not fully sane. 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. But otherwise, this is a gem of a movie with outstanding performances in all three key roles, particularly the doctor who is portrayed with an incredible intensity and realism. Also noteworthy is the king who is not quite sane yet not totally loony either; the acting here is frighteningly good and utterly convincing. Last but not least, the queen excels in showing real pathos and long-suffering endurance trapped in her destiny, and then comes alive beautifully in her relationship with the doctor.

    As icing on the cake, costumes are sumptuous, period settings flawless, and the music is era-appropriate and delightfully arcane. Original music is also quite good, though most of the time one is so engrossed in the story that the music just vanishes. Movie is almost all in Danish with English subtitles, and I felt the size/font choice for the titles was too big, too pushy, you never quite forget that you're reading titles.

    This is a tale of exploration of the darker side of the human experience: what does it mean to be sane, how can a divinely ordained monarch be deprived of his wits, to what lengths will a person go to promote his/her progeny into power, are the "unwashed masses" really grateful to those who try to emancipate them? This movie (and its three main characters) will haunt you for many days.
    helpful•35
    4
    • dbogosian-1
    • Nov 28, 2012

    FAQ1

    • Is this movie based on fact

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 29, 2012 (Denmark)
    • Countries of origin
      • Denmark
      • Sweden
      • Czech Republic
      • Germany
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • Danish
      • English
      • German
      • French
    • Also known as
      • La reina infiel
    • Filming locations
      • Ploskovice Chateau, Czech Republic
    • Production companies
      • Zentropa Entertainments
      • Danmarks Radio (DR)
      • Trollhättan Film AB
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,546,761
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $38,212
      • Nov 11, 2012
    • Gross worldwide
      • $14,758,997
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 17 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

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