parausted THIS MOVIE HAS THE INCREDIBLE MERIT OF PRESENTING A PRACTICALLY DELETED REALITY OF THE OFFICIAL HISTORY OF DENMARK. ITS PROTAGONIST, JOHANN FRIEDRICH STRUENSEE, IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH TO THE FREEDOM OF THE MANKIND... THAT RESULTS VERY INDIGESTIBLE TO OFFICIAL HISTORIANS. THIS FILM BRINGS BACK SOMETHING THAT LOOKED LOST IN THE CURRENT CINEMA: DEPTH, MORAL RELEVANCE, PLASTIC BEAUTY, SINCERE EMOTION, GREAT INTERPRETATION, EXCELLENT DIALOGUES. THE THEME OF FREEDOM OF THOUGHT HAS BEEN FEW TIMES TOUCHED BY CINEMA (I REMEMBER "WITCH" IN 1920, "INHERIT THE WIND" IN 1959, "THE PHARAO" IN 1966), BUT AS IN THIS MOVIE, NEVER. EQUALLY "A ROYAL AFFAIR" (TITLE THAT HIDES THE TRUE SENSE OF THE ARGUMENT) SHOWS EMPATHY TOWARDS THE OPPRESSED PEOPLE, TOWARDS THE IDEALS THAT CAME IN THE FRENCH REVOLUTION, AND DENOUNCES THE DARK COMPLOTES OF THE EUROPEAN NOBILITY AND THE CHURCH. THIS IS THE DENIED HISTORY, THIS IS A WORK OF ART THAT OBEYS WONDERFULLY THE GREEK IDEAL OF THE DEEP LINK OF BEAUTY AND INTELLIGENCE. "A ROYAL AFFAIR", DESPITE THE TITLE, IS A GIFT FOR THE MIND AND THE HEART.

Irishchatter I swear by the best reviews and the amount of nominations on this film, I wasn't a bit interested in the movie. For god sakes, it was too long even if it was just two hours!I'm interested in these kind of period films but definitely not this one! It really doesn't tell us much of Caroline Mathilde, her lover or her stupid cruel husband. It just made us look at the people of the background, nothing else!I swear, this movie just is pathetic and pretty much boring. They should've made this shorter or even change the storyline.

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.

Milo Milosovic There really is something rotten in the state of Denmark, No, it's not Von Trier's latest in-joke art-fest. Or Reffin's foray into the world of Hollywood pot-boiler. It's something Danish born, bred, and branded.Nicolaj Arcal's A Royal Affair is essentially based on the true story of young English Princesses doomed marriage to an eccentric King in 18th Century Denmark. So far, so Downton-Dogme. Ineed this is a film I went into with a certain trepidation. The poster is ghastly - resembling, for all the world, a visualisation of a Barabara Cartland novel - it screams costumer-drama tweeness and historical romance schmaltz. Secondly, how interesting could a portrait of 18th Century Danish Royalty be to a Brit proto-Republican? The answer is very. Yes, this is a period-drama. Yes, there is a "forbidden-love" romance. However, there is so much more. The drama and romance are framing devices to big ideas and big themes. Essentially, this is a portrait of enlightenment thinking versus the feudal establishment. Church, state and the nobility pitching itself against writers, doctors and free-thinking women. Denmark is portrayed as the vanguard of European progressive politics. Voltaire would have been (actually he was) proud.As a piece of cinema it is terrific. Beautifully shot, it evokes Kubrik's Barry Lyndon at times but actually has a heart and soul. The performances are universally excellent (Mads Mikkelson following up his jaw-dropping role in The Hunt and who is rapidly becoming my favourite screen presence). Most importantly it is bursting with ideas and imagination. Do yourself a favour and get a proper history lesson.