Loves of a Dictator: A Period Piece That Stumbles Through Its Own Fancy Wardrobe

If you have a thing for historical dramas where everyone talks in very measured, polite tones while secretly plotting to ruin each other, Loves of a Dictator is exactly the kind of dusty attic discovery you might enjoy. It is not for the person who needs a fast pace or modern editing; it is for the person who likes to sit back and watch people in wigs make terrible life choices.

Honestly, the whole thing feels like a stage play that got lost on its way to the theater. The set pieces are big, and the costumes are fancy, but nobody seems to be having much fun. It reminded me a bit of the stuffy atmosphere in —though that one at least had more charm to go around.

The story kicks off with a wedding that nobody wants, which is a classic setup. The King is a total disaster, and you can see it in his eyes. He’s more interested in his next party than his new bride, Princess Caroline Mathilde. It’s hard to blame her for being cold. I mean, would you want to be stuck in a palace with a guy who treats royal duty like a chore he’s trying to skip?

Then enters the doctor. He’s the classic climber, right? He fixes the King’s health not out of the goodness of his heart, but because he sees a ladder. Watching him navigate the court is like watching someone walk on thin ice while wearing heavy boots. It’s stressful, but mostly because you’re waiting for him to slip.

There is this one scene where he’s talking to the Princess, and the lighting is just so dark. It makes you feel like they are hiding in a cave rather than a palace. The dialogue is so heavy-handed sometimes I had to pause it to let the air back into the room. It’s not subtle. At all.

It’s definitely not as fun as the energy you get in Little Old New York, which felt like it had a heartbeat. This film is more like a statue—pretty to look at for a second, but cold to the touch.

I found myself staring at the background extras more than the main actors at one point. There’s a guy in the back of a ballroom scene who looks like he’s bored out of his mind, and honestly? Same. It’s these little moments of accidental truth that make old movies worth watching, even when the plot itself feels like it’s dragging its feet.

Is it worth your time? Only if you really like the genre. It’s not a masterpiece, and it doesn’t try to be. It just exists, floating in that weird space between real history and a soap opera. 🤷‍♂️

• The wigs are distractingly large.
• The chemistry is more like static electricity—mostly just sparks and irritation.
• The ending is exactly what you expect, which is almost comforting in a weird way.
• Don’t look for historical accuracy, or you’ll be pulling your hair out.