Beta Film’s “Queen Silvia” is world-premiering at Mipcom.
Inspired by the real-life romance between Sweden’s Crown Prince Carl Gustaf and Silvia Sommerlath, a German-Brazilian interpreter who became Queen of Sweden, it’s directed by Miguel Alexandre and stars Alicia von Rittberg and Edvin Endre.
“Even though it’s a very European story, people will see that it’s universal and can be sold – and watched – from Tokyo to Buenos Aires,” says executive producer Justus Riesenkampff.
The series is a joint production of Pyjama Pictures (Germany) and Unlimited Stories (Sweden) for Prime Video in Germany, Austria and German-speaking Switzerland and the Nordic countries, as well as for SAT.1 in Germany.
“In Germany, we’re also fascinated by royalty. We discovered that we actually have a queen: Silvia Sommerlath, who’s partly German and partly Brazilian,” Alexandre tells Variety.
“These two people had something the other one was missing. Sommerlath was brought up between two different cultures and was looking for home. Carl Gustaf had that, but you could also call it a prison. In Silvia, he found someone who loved him for who he really was, and that gave him the strength to fulfill his role.”
“Carl Gustaf has said publicly that he needed to find a queen for Sweden. It was difficult for him to date because he needed someone who could ‘do the job.’ Silvia was far better at it than he ever was,” says Edvin Endre.
Still, it’s important to note that she was a fully formed human being even before setting foot in the royal court.
“She wasn’t looking for someone to make her ‘whole’. She was already very independent. But how do you fit into a world where you have to give up the things you’ve built for yourself?,” wonders Alicia von Rittberg.
The couple met in 1972. They got engaged four years later.
“For royals, that’s a long time. We asked: ‘What happened within those four years?’ That’s where we found the heart of our tale. It’s not about a woman who wants to become a queen; it’s about a woman who has to come to terms with it. It’s not a Cinderella story,” adds showrunner Carsten Kelber.
“In one interview, Sylvia said: ‘I’m glad I was given so much time to decide.’ She said this while sitting right next to him, which means he probably asked earlier. This breaks the usual narrative because it’s not about ‘When is he going to ask’?!.”
They wanted to show someone who isn’t overwhelmed by her new surroundings. Instead, she’s trying to find her place within them.
“I don’t think she was even that impressed,” laughs von Rittberg, with her co-star adding: “When we talk about royal families, we tend to focus on privilege. But Sylvia was one of the few people in his life who could see him as a real person.”
He continues: “He became king at 27, and spent his entire life resenting many of the things he had to do. Their kids were allowed to marry for love and I think that says a lot about how they chose to change things within the monarchy.”
Despite the growing criticism and never-ending wave of scandals plaguing royal families pretty much everywhere, people want to keep watching them, says the team.
“I lived in Britain with my parents and since then, I’ve been obsessed with royalty. Even if you’re against it, you have an opinion about it. I don’t think they will ever go away,” notes Kelber.
While future seasons will delve deeper into the themes of duty and responsibility, the first one is really all about love, says von Rittberg. And all filmmakers want to tell a good love story, adds Alexandre.
“How do you find a good one? Only when there are limitations, conflicts or reasons why two people can’t be together. In modern societies, there aren’t really that many obstacles anymore. That’s why it’s so fascinating.”
Still, Kelber prefers to call “Queen Silvia” a “romantic drama” instead. “I prefer that term because we go really deep. It’s O.K. to call it a ‘love story,’ but that sounds a bit too light to me. Which we aren’t, thank God.”