Every now and then you find a movie that
captures your imagination, or sometimes it even finds you!
This was the case with “A Royal
Affair”.
I saw the trailer while channel-surfing one
night and since historical movies are one of my favourite genres I decided to
watch it.
I had studied the “Age of Enlightenment”
1700 – 1800, at high school but the main focus was on France, Prussia and
Russia. We learned nothing about Denmark, and nothing about the American
Revolution in this context.
From the Princeton
site it is defined thus:
“The Age of
Enlightenment (or simply the Enlightenment) is the era in
Western philosophy,
intellectual, scientific and cultural life, centered upon the 18th century, in
which reason was advocated as the
primary source for legitimacy
and authority.
Developing simultaneously in France, Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the American colonies, the movement was buoyed by Atlantic Revolutions, especially the success of the American Revolution, when breaking free of the British Empire.
Most of Europe was caught up, including the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Russia, and Scandinavia, along with Latin America in instigating the Haitian Revolution. The authors of the American Declaration of Independence, the United States Bill of Rights, the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, and the Polish-Lithuanian Constitution of May 3, 1791, were motivated by Enlightenment principles.[1]
The "Enlightenment" was not a single movement or school of thought, for these philosophies were often mutually contradictory or divergent. The Enlightenment was less a set of ideas than it was a set of values. At its core was a critical questioning of traditional institutions, customs, and morals, and a strong belief in rationality and science. Thus, there was still a considerable degree of similarity between competing philosophies.[2] Some historians also include the late 17th century, which is typically known as the Age of Reason or Age of Rationalism, as part of the Enlightenment; however, most historians consider the Age of Reason to be a prelude to the ideas of the Enlightenment.[3] Modernity, by contrast, is used to refer to the period after The Enlightenment; albeit generally emphasizing social conditions rather than specific philosophies.”
There is more information here.
Developing simultaneously in France, Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the American colonies, the movement was buoyed by Atlantic Revolutions, especially the success of the American Revolution, when breaking free of the British Empire.
Most of Europe was caught up, including the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Russia, and Scandinavia, along with Latin America in instigating the Haitian Revolution. The authors of the American Declaration of Independence, the United States Bill of Rights, the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, and the Polish-Lithuanian Constitution of May 3, 1791, were motivated by Enlightenment principles.[1]
The "Enlightenment" was not a single movement or school of thought, for these philosophies were often mutually contradictory or divergent. The Enlightenment was less a set of ideas than it was a set of values. At its core was a critical questioning of traditional institutions, customs, and morals, and a strong belief in rationality and science. Thus, there was still a considerable degree of similarity between competing philosophies.[2] Some historians also include the late 17th century, which is typically known as the Age of Reason or Age of Rationalism, as part of the Enlightenment; however, most historians consider the Age of Reason to be a prelude to the ideas of the Enlightenment.[3] Modernity, by contrast, is used to refer to the period after The Enlightenment; albeit generally emphasizing social conditions rather than specific philosophies.”
There is more information here.
We also learned about “enlightened despots”
like Catherine The Great of Russia, and Frederick the Great of Prussia and also
of the ‘philosophes’ like Rousseau, Diderot and Voltaire.
I think it is fair to say that all the
countries in Europe were ruled by either monarchs or religious leaders, like the
Papal States for example, but
mainly monarchs who could be described as ‘tyrants’ or ‘dictators’ since they
came to rule by virtue of their birth and acted that way generally.
“A Royal Affair” is about a young English
Princess, Caroline Mathilde, who is married off to King Christian VII of Denmark
who has severe mental issues.
A German doctor,Johann Friedrich Streunsee, becomes the court physician.
A German doctor,Johann Friedrich Streunsee, becomes the court physician.
He comes to court with many books about the Enlightenment. These
books have been banned in Denmark, but the new Queen is quite aware of them. She
borrows these from him and more than a friendship follows in due
course.
The Danish Establishment feels very threatened
by ‘a man of the Enlightenment’ and since the doctor is able to help King
Christian VII he is also able to influence his thinking.
He encourages the king to change many laws
that help improve the lives of the common people.
I don’t agree: he is no more a dictator than
any other contemporary ruler, notwithstanding the fact that he wasn’t born to
the role or voted into it – who was voted in back then?
He was even a pioneer of
vaccination which is quite astonishing.
The actors are outstanding as are the sets and
costumes.
The story is fascinating in its truth. The
ending is uplifting after the horrific incidents that precede it.
I highly recommend this movie for both history
and movie buffs!
Many reviews that I have read give it a great
deal of credit like this one from the ABC.
It was directed by Nikolaj
Arcel in
2012.
Cast:
Alicia Vikander - Caroline Mathilde
Mads Mikkelsen - Johann Friedrich
Struensee (Le Chiffre in Casino Royal)
Mikkel Boe Følsgaard - Christian VII
| |||
Above: still shots from the movie of Queen Caroline and Dr Struensee.
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