Directed by: Nikolaj Arcel
Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Alicia Vikander, Mikkel Boe Føesgaard
Running time: 137 minutes
Equal rights, freedom of speech, healthcare, rights of the peasants, establishing orphanage is nothing new today, but not 250 years ago where such ideas are considered as dangerous, especially since the world is still under the chains of feudalism and conservative aristocracy.
The books and ideas of French enlightenment pop stars, Voltaire and Rousseau arrived in Denmark in the 18th century under the arm of Dr. Johann Struensee (Mads Mikkelsen), a German physician who was hired to care for the childish and young King Christian VII. Not only advising the king with radical ideas that will change Denmark in ages to come (and ideas that will change Europe in form of French Revolution too). Not only that, between advising the King he also slept with Queen Caroline (Alicia Vikander).
Why would this Queen, a woman of higher social status at that time, risking everything with a commoner? It is not sex or physical appeal but how their mind connect with each other that fuels the forbidden love.
Nominated in the Best Foreign Language in this year's Oscar alongside Amour, Rebelle and Kon-Tiki, this rich history drama felt like Game of Thrones PG-13 version, but this was true story and they are all historical figure. Supported by good acting, the first half felt a little bit too long and the second half is exciting. Overall it is well-crafted drama that can teach Hollywood that a film about period romance can also talk about politics in a sexy way.
I think how ideas of freedom and equality evolves in the world is something interesting to be filmed, it will show the people that what we enjoy today is a result of ongoing struggle that sometimes involves war and oppression. The fight for equality and freedom is will never stop, it shall always be renewed and fight every time.
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