And as Carrie Bradshaw sat at her perfectly positioned product placement-pleasing Mac laptop - in her underwear, always in her underwear – she couldn’t help but wonder: How did anyone in the 18th century start an affair without the help of a masked ball?
Penned by Nikolaj Arcel and Rasmus Heisterberg (the writers behind the original Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) and directed by Arcel, A Royal Affair is a by-the-book forbidden romance costume drama that’s based on fact. Set in Denmark at the court of the mentally-ill King Christian VII (Mikkel Følsgaard), the film focuses on the romance between the Queen (Alicia Vikander) and the royal physician and revolutionary Struensee (Mads Mikkelson).
Films rarely come more attractive, with Rasmus Videbæk’s cinematography literally glimmering throughout the film. Travelling from the majestic, misty landscapes of the stunning palace grounds to the dark, seedy town brothels often frequented by the King, the visuals capture the atmosphere of the surroundings wonderfully.
Similarly attuned to playing with light and dark, Følsgaard proves superb as the manic, narcissistic King, avoiding the potential pantomime pitfalls of Christian’s character. Though his cruel, almost feral temper tantrums are vicious, there’s also a childish quality to them that shows his vulnerability. Constant nervous giggling betrays an insecure young man unprepared for his responsibilities as a leader, and his obsessive admiration for Struensee demonstrates a deep desire for guidance.
However despite Følsgaard’s passionate performance and the luminous visuals, there’s a coldness to proceedings, due in part to the overly-restrained turns by Mikkelson and Vikander. Though Mikkelson radiates an intelligence that’s perfect for the philosophising doctor, Vikander proves weak and the star-crossed lovers share no palpable chemistry.
True story origins aside, the film’s overused retelling conceit and doomed-romance plot structure prove somewhat tired. Though the interesting subplots involving smallpox cures and political rebellion are well handled, the pace does begin to drag in the third act, leaving a period piece that’s pretty, but predictable.