Johann Friedrich Struensee, the royal physician of Denmark’s Christian IV gains the trust of the king and the queen and starts climbing up the social ladder. He tries to reduce the privileges of the aristocrats by implementing the freedom of press and expression based on the ideas of European enlightenment, abolishing torture and emancipating serfs. But the aristocracy refuses the reform and Johann ends up on trial. A reformer ahead of his time getting closer to power and seeking an opportunity to realize his dreams (whether the attempt may be successful or not) may ring a familiar bell. However Director Nikolaj Arcel offers an incredible epic by combining a period piece based on a true story with history, politics, romance, and thriller. Mads Kikkelsen appears almost 20 minutes after the film starts but his overwhelming presence cannot be dismissed. Mikkel Boe Følsgaard playing the deranged king won the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for his compelling performance. Alicia Vikander, the debutant from <Pure> (winner of the Flash Forward Award in 2010) shows both the queen’s elegance and a rookie’s fresh charm. (Karen PARK)