Posted on: April 22, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

 

A Royal Affair was helmed by the creative team behind the transference of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo from book to film. The sheer amount of drama that is conveyed with this film is excellent. While the actions that are captured here took place in the distant past, there is a sense that the torrid love affair that this film focuses on could easily happy today. A Royal Affair is a tale woven by Caroline (Alicia Vikander, of The Crown Jewels and Anna Karenina), and eir travails with King Christian VII (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard). As the King continues to grow difficult alongside Caroline, a doctor (Johann Struensee, played by Mads Mikkelsen) comes into the picture.

Caroline and Johann become closer (the titular relationship) after a few terse meetings while the film draws to a close. Viewers are left with a less than rosy closing to A Royal Affair, their reward after being stunned by stellar costumery, video quality, and an audio track that ensures that every utterance can be heard. A Royal Affair stands above and beyond other historical dramas due to the connections that the cast makes with those viewing.

I feel that the interviews do much to tie together the actors that slip into the roles so effortlessly. The half-hour of interviews showcases briefly Alicia Vikander, Nikolaj Arcel, and Mads Mikkelsen’s own unique takes on the focus and feel of the film. The featurettes are rounded out with the inclusion of a royal family tree, making explicit some of the more nuanced relationships that take place in A Royal Affair. The film (available on Blu-Ray as well as on DVD) can be purchased at any well-stocked video store or from any online film retailer.

Rating: 8.2/10

A Royal Affair (2012) DVD CoverA Royal Affair DVD Review / 2013 Magnolia Pictures / 137 Minutes / http://www.magpictures.com

 

Leave a Comment