tao902
Set in 1767, the British Princess Caroline is sent to Denmark to marry the mentally ill and promiscuous King Christian. A German doctor, Johann, a free thinker, is recruited to help organize the king's affairs. He influences the king's policies with Enlightenment ideas, undermining the interests of the ruling class. Johann has a child by the king's neglected wife which gives the conservative ruling council their opportunity to indict Johann of treason, resulting in his execution and restoration of feudal law.Based on a true story this is an intriguing piece of history well told in a well made film. Convincing, excellent acting within luscious, superbly filmed settings.
paul2001sw-1
In the late eighteenth century Denmark, a radical German doctor soothed the mad King, seduced the Queen and governed the country as an enlightened liberal. Understadnably, it didn't last, and Nikolaj Arcel's film tells the story of his extraordinary rise and fall. It's a compelling story, a historical 'Borgen' and the tragedy of a man who ends up assuming an unsustainable position almost by accident; as a film, it's well-acted but also slow, drawing out a tale that can only ever move in one direction. A touch of sympathy for the old guard might have added some depth. It's interesting to think that the British king of the same period also had his own issues with mental health, another story that has been filmed: the politics here is stronger than in Alan Bennet's 'The Madness of King George', but it's not as much fun.
bjarias
You get the feeling early on in this film things are not going to end well. But it is movie making and not a documentary as the kings first wife in real life had seven kids and the second supposedly had twelve (then another half dozen or so with several mistresses... the man liked to copulate). It's a good film nonetheless, and the acting is top notch.. Mikkelsen and Vikander.. bit.ly/12EJNhc .. are superb.. the entire cast is truly deserved of high praise. Should you enjoy period movies this one could be right up your alley. Wonder what it is these period films have such an allure. In reality the lives of a majority of the population were totally unappealing.. but we're really not watchin most any of that.
runamokprods
Subject triumphs over style in this slightly stuffy, slightly staid, arguably overlong, but often fascinating and occasionally moving history lesson. It's Denmark at the time of the Enlightenment. The young King Christian is borderline insane -- although, in the most complex performance with the most complex character in the film, Mikkel Folsgaard shows us many sides to this tormented soul. But the film focuses on the more straightforward young Queen shipped in from England, miserable in her loveless marriage to this sad clown of a king, and a very well intentioned German doctor and free-thinker, who feeds the Queen's intellect, and ultimately her body, while calming and befriending the young King, and working with him to bring in new laws that took Denmark out of the dark ages. All this doesn't go over very well with the sitting court, who are loathe to give any power or economic freedom to the people, and so scheme to fight back. Other than the King, the characters tend to black and white portrayals, but the actual steps of this true (if somewhat romanticized) slice of history make for a quite engrossing film.
AD
