“A Royal Affair” (Denmark, 2012)

Do you remember the villain from Casino Royale in the 007 series? That was Mads Mikkelsen, who stars here as a brilliant physician. He gains the favor of the Danish royal court, becomes a powerful behind-the-scenes figure, and ambitiously attempts to modernize the nation—only to see his hopes tragically crushed. The story is set in the late 18th century, around the time of the American Declaration of Independence and a decade before the French Revolution.

In this period, Johann Friedrich Struensee, an ambitious German doctor, becomes the personal physician to Denmark’s mentally unstable King Christian VII. He bonds with the king and, nicknamed the “King of Prussia,” throws himself into reforming the nation. However, he also falls into a forbidden love affair with Queen Caroline Matilda. The word “affair” in English, after all, refers to an illicit relationship.

A fervent believer in Enlightenment ideals championed by Montesquieu and Voltaire, Struensee manipulates the king and assumes power as a de facto regent to push forward his reforms. However, he ultimately falls victim to a coup led by the conservative aristocrats of the Privy Council, frustrated by his changes. The dialectic of reform followed by reaction is a recurring pattern in history.

Based on a well-known true story in Denmark, this grand historical drama portrays the fateful love triangle between the king, the queen, and the royal physician, vividly illustrating the intense struggle for power within the court. From monarchy to republic to democracy—no matter how a country’s system of governance evolves, the entrenched structure of bureaucrats and nobles clinging to power remains unchanged, even in the 21st century.

Yes, torture like that inflicted on Takiji Kobayashi is no longer practiced. Peasants are no longer exploited and plundered by the nobility. But even as the eras have changed—Edo, Meiji, Taisho, Showa, Heisei—ultranationalist factions who idolize the Imperial family still run rampant. Can such a nation truly survive? One is left feeling deeply uneasy. This film evokes that kind of reflection—truly a masterpiece.

Official Website: http://www.royal-affair.net/main.htmlDistribution: Albatros Film