‘Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction’ – Love Has the Ability to Make Fools of Us All

The new Netflix film, Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction, is based on the book of the same name by Karen Blixen. Cazotte (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard) is a painter and a self-appointed “love guru”. After finishing his portrait of the Grand Duchess (Sidse Babett Knudsen), she asks him to help her shy son, Prince Lothar (Emil Aron Dorph) find a wife and produce an heir.

Cazotte’s work is more than successful. The Prince marries and in no time, is an expectant father. But the problem is that a scandal may destroy the reputation of those who wear the crown. The only way to save face is to go on a long holiday and try to evade a scandal. Joining the Cazotte and the royal newlyweds is Ehrengard (Alice Bier Zanden), a young woman from an aristocratic family.

Cazotte has fallen for Ehrengard and is intent on seducing her. But she is a tough nut to crack and thinks that he is nothing more than a smooth-talking charlatan.

The Balance is Perfect

Melding genres that appear to have little to nothing in common is not easy. It requires a skilled scribe who can successfully mingle specific narratives and character types. Co-written by Blixen and Anders Frithiof August, neither the romantic comedy nor the fairy tale aspect is left on the sidelines.

The sets, costumes, and locations made me believe that I was in a world that is completely different from ours. Set in a fictional German country in the mid-19^th century, the scenery is green, lush, and breathtaking. It is the perfect backdrop to the tale, and given what is happening in the world currently, was exactly what I needed.

The comedy comes from the politics of that level of society and the fact that Ehrengard has zero interest in Cazotte. There is a Dangerous Liaisons sub-narrative between Cazotte and the Grand Duchess heightened my want to know the answer to the question of “will they or won’t they.”

Ehrengard Straddles Modernity and Romanticism

She has become one of my favorite heroines. Though Ehrengard is firmly based in the world that the movie creates, she is not some simpering debutante who is straight out of the schoolroom. She is smart, capable, and not about to fall for the tactics of a man whom she distrusts entirely.

In another writer’s hands, Ehrengard’s tale would pretty much follow the story in The Music Man. First, she would see through his bullshit and try to convince everyone that he is nothing more than a con artist. Then, he would slowly reveal his good side and she would fall in love with Cazotte. Finally, when the shit hits the fan, she would be initially hurt before having his back.

Thankfully, Ehrengard is not your average female protagonist. She straddles both the fairy tale world and feminism, making her feel real, relevant, and modern.

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