Queen of Hearts, also known as Dronningen in Danish, is a gripping drama film directed by May el-Toukhy and released in 2019. The movie stars Trine Dyrholm as Anne, a lawyer working on cases involving rape and violent abuse of young women, and Gustav Lindh as Gustav, her husband’s teenage son from a previous marriage. The film was selected as Denmark’s entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards, and it won the 2019 Nordic Council Film Prize.
The film’s title and repeated mentions of the Queen of Hearts character from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland allude to Anne’s role as a powerful and respected lawyer, but also to the secrets and desires she hides beneath her professional exterior. The film explores themes of family dynamics, societal expectations, and the blurred lines between love, desire, and manipulation.
The plot revolves around Anne’s growing attraction to Gustav, which ultimately leads to a sexual relationship between the two. Anne’s denial of the affair and her attempts to keep it a secret lead to a series of tragic events, including Gustav’s disappearance and eventual death. The film portrays the consequences of Anne’s actions and the impact they have on her family and Gustav’s life.
The film’s natural and engaging writing style draws the audience in and creates a sense of intimacy and tension. The explicit and steamy scenes between Anne and Gustav add to the film’s erotic and provocative nature, making it an adult movie that is not for the faint of heart.
