The Tension Of Changing Governments: The Exception, 2016
The Exception is a 2016 romantic war film directed by David Leveaux (in his directorial debut) and written by Simon Burke, based on Alan Judd's 2003 novel The Kaiser's Last Kiss. The film stars Jai Courtney, Lily James, Janet McTeer, and Christopher Plummer. The plot is a fictionalized account of the life of exiled Kaiser Wilhelm II (Plummer). When a Wehrmacht officer (Courtney) is ordered to determine whether or not a British spy has infiltrated the Kaiser's residence with a view to assassinating the deposed monarch, he falls in love with one of the Kaiser's maids (James) during his investigation.
Wilhelm II (Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert; 27 January 1859 – 4 June 1941) was the last German Emperor (German: Kaiser) and King of Prussia, reigning from 15 June 1888 until his abdication on 9 November 1918. Despite strengthening the German Empire's position as a great power by building a powerful navy, his tactless public statements and erratic foreign policy greatly antagonized the international community and are considered by many to be one of the underlying causes of World War I. After his abdication, he lived in exile in the Netherlands. The film is set in Nazi Occupied Netherlands during World War II.
The Exception is a really unique film because it shows the contrast of two entirely different governments in between two great wars. You have the old government, which was a monarchy compared against the new government which was bureaucratic dictatorship. Additionally the loyalty of the characters of the film is torn between the two different forms of government and country.
Christopher Plummer did a fantastic job as the former Kaiser and even shockingly looked like him and fit the role perfectly. Screendaily goes further in depth about Christopher Plummer praising his performance. Wilhelm is a tragic figure in many ways — he can’t let go of the military failures of World War I, as if obsessively revisiting them could somehow rewrite the past — but there’s also a poignant grandeur to his demeanour. The veteran actor portrays the Kaiser in a state of perpetual readiness to regain his throne, and the crispness of the character’s wit and royal bearing makes him endearing rather than pathetic.
Plummer wore the uniform of a royal monarch with grace and even just through uniforms the contrast between old and new Germany was noticeable. One might not think much of the impact of a uniform at first glance but considering they are worn every day by soldiers and that German uniforms were especially stylized, they play a large role both in German history and on screen. The Kaiser even has a collection of about a dozen uniforms from all over the world he was apparently collecting in the film as a hobby.
The film has average reviews on rotten tomatoes with the consensus reading The Exception (The Kaiser's Last Kiss) elegantly blends well-dressed period romance and war drama into a solidly crafted story further elevated by Christopher Plummer's excellent work and the efforts of a talented supporting cast.
While slow at parts the overall film has a good story and remains captivating for audiences both interested in period dramas and also World War history.
