Ehrengard The Art of Seduction is a Danish period drama film based on Karen Blixen’s novel of the same name. It is directed by Bille August and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is said to have taken part in the set and costume design of the film. With a runtime of about 1 hour and 34 minutes, it is available in various languages with subtitles on Netflix.
The ensemble cast of the film includes Sidse Babett Knudsen as The Grand Duchess, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard as Mr Cazotte, Jacob Lohmann as Mr Marbod, Emilie Kroyer Koppel as Princess Ludmilla, Christopher Læssø, Alice Esther Bier Zandén as Ehrengard, Jakob Højlev Jørgensen as Mathias, Sara-Marie Maltha, Paul Hüttel, Kit Eichler and others.
Ehrengard The Art of Seduction Review
The first character that we meet on screen is Mr Cazotte, a painter appointed to create a portrait of the Grand Duchess. He seems pretty devoted and strict toward his artistic skills as he requests the Duchess to not move and straighten her gown to the initial position. When isn’t able to instruct her verbally, he moves rather close to making everything proper, while the Duchess seduces him in an improper activity.
The self-appointed expert of love and seduction clutches himself out of her embrace without hurting and completes the job by keeping his neck in place. Impressed by his ways, it was the beginning of a strange friendship/partnership between the two as she appointed him to teach the timid and introverted Crown Prince Lothar the art of seduction and lovemaking.
In order to secure the throne, the Crown Prince had to be wedded before the Duke’s health deteriorated. Although the Prince takes a liking to Princess Ludmilla through Cazotte’s ways. But their plan soon backfires, when an heir is conceived out of wedlock and the royal family has to seek refuge in the castle of Rosenbad. Here, as rivals within the royal family close in on their scheme, on the other hand, Cazotte himself falls in love with Ehrengard, the maid of honour, and gradually learns that in fact, he’s no expert on love at all.
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The character of Mr Cazotte is not someone excessively charming or who can woo anyone with his words. But he is a lucky lad who can pull up a trick or two, to save his life. He never boasts of being an expert on love, sex and other things but it’s the Grand Duchess’ attraction towards him, that puts Mr Cazotte in high regard. And in order to make a living, he doesn’t miss any opportunity that comes his way.
However, his really clumsy and lacking self comes out when he tries to seduce Ehrengard, as part of his wager with the Duchess and his own piqued interest. The popular internet slang nowadays, ‘being delulu is the solulu’ – fits perfectly well in his situation. Where Cazotte overanalyses each of his interactions with Ehrengard as her falling for him slowly, not realising that he is just living in a delusion.
As a romantic comedy, one might expect that the film will end in an obvious way with Mr Cazotte succeeding in his seduction plans. That’s when the story differentiates itself from others and sets an example that a good plot doesn’t have to be generic. I really like the ending of the film which adds a humourous touch to the story.
Overall, it’s an entertaining film that showcases some royal drama and scheming, along with an appreciation of the art, nature and even one-sided feelings. It was fresh to see Ehrengard not being projected as a typical ‘not like other girls’ to show that Cazotte’s sneaky ways won’t work on her. But also she doesn’t falter from her stance, stands true to her character and outcharms him in his own game.
Rating: 4/5
Ehrengard The Art of Seduction is available for streaming on Netflix.
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