She was a typical Scandinavian woman, with beautiful golden-brown long hair. Wearing high heels, she stood almost as tall as Duke. Her blue eyes were as bright as gemstones, and her sharp chin accentuated the strong lines of her face. Her broad shoulders supported a rose-colored gown that fit her perfectly.
If not for her face, her body was somewhat reminiscent of Charlize Theron, with the same tall, broad-shouldered build.
Such women tend to mature early. From her appearance alone, Duke couldn't determine her exact age, estimating somewhere between sixteen and twenty-two years old.
Unlike the dazzling Hollywood actresses, she wasn't particularly beautiful, or rather, her makeup clearly wasn't aiming for a glamorous look.
The earth-toned makeup highlighted a steady and dignified aura. Subtle nose contouring and orange blush made her features more defined, while coral-colored lipstick matched the tones of her overall makeup, complementing her personality and giving her a stylish yet elegant appearance.
It took Duke about ten seconds to recall who she was, as they had exchanged greetings earlier.
"Should I address you as 'Your Highness'? Or perhaps 'Your Grace'?" Duke asked politely.
Victoria chuckled softly, "Do Americans care about such things?"
From Duke's perspective, she smiled with eight perfectly aligned teeth, obviously the result of systematic training. He returned a similar smile. "Not all Americans are uncouth country folk."
"That's just the British opinion."
As she said this, Victoria glanced towards the crowd, where a British royal with a duke's title held his chin so high it nearly touched his forehead. "You can call me Vicky or Alice."
"And you can call me Duke."
The Swedish crown princess appeared more down-to-earth and lacked the overly formal attitude expected. After chatting briefly about the movie she had just watched, she added, "I'm very curious about America. I've always wanted to study there after finishing high school in France."
"Vicky, I'd recommend you choose either New York University's Film School or USC's School of Cinematic Arts."
Since she wasn't putting on the airs of a princess, Duke felt comfortable tossing in a few light-hearted jokes. "You seem to have a great understanding of films. Who knows, you might accomplish something unique in this field."
Of course, this was simply to make the high school princess happy. Even a fool would know that a Swedish crown princess wouldn't become a movie director. However, considering Duke's status, having such words come from a top Hollywood director with a serious tone was still quite flattering.
"It's been a pleasure talking to you."
No matter how poised and dignified she appeared, she was still a young girl. Princess Victoria's smile became more genuine and natural, unlike the trained expression she wore earlier. "I've met a few French film directors, and they always talk about art. After a few words, they lose my interest."
"Talking to you has been my pleasure," Duke added with a playful tone. "Beautiful princess."
Though not completely sheltered, in terms of knowledge—especially in areas like film and the entertainment industry, topics that interest young girls—Princess Victoria was far behind Duke. Perhaps she didn't often find people with whom she could discuss these subjects. Their conversation flowed smoothly, and Duke even subtly managed to inquire about her age.
Compared to the average high schooler, Princess Victoria was undoubtedly more intelligent and experienced. But in front of Duke, she was simply a somewhat clever, socially aware girl under eighteen.
As they walked towards a quieter terrace, her attendants kept a close but respectful distance. Duke paid them no mind, continuing to talk about topics that interested the princess.
"Being an actor is tough, especially for someone like Tom, who's widely recognized for his acting skills."
In an earlier conversation, Duke had learned that she admired Tom Hanks, so he didn't hesitate to use Tom as a focal point.
Standing by the terrace railing, Duke looked at her and asked, "Do you remember the scene in the film where Captain Miller cries silently?"
"I do!" Princess Victoria nodded quickly, "Mr. Hanks' acting was incredible!"
"To nail that scene," Duke lowered his voice and leaned in slightly, speaking conspiratorially near her ear, "Tom put a lot of effort into it. I heard from Colin that Tom's eldest son said his dad spent his Christmas vacation practicing that scene by crying alone in the corner. And during the actual shoot, even after the director called 'cut,' Tom's tears kept flowing for a full five minutes."
"My goodness, he really worked hard."
Princess Victoria stepped back slightly, perhaps in deference to proper etiquette, creating a respectful distance between them. After sharing this "secret," Duke immediately took a step back himself, making it seem as though he had merely shared a casual confidence with a friend.
"If I ever get the chance," Princess Victoria said, a hint of longing in her voice, "I'd love to visit Hollywood."
Duke responded at the right moment, "I can introduce you to Hollywood."
Of course, he knew this was just a friendly remark. A crown princess's status was far above that of someone like the Princess of Wales, and she would likely act with more caution.
Still, if he could somehow connect Sweden's crown princess to Hollywood, the media on both sides of the Atlantic would surely be grateful.
"It's been a pleasure talking with you."
As her attendants approached to remind her of the time, Princess Victoria extended her hand toward Duke. "It's getting late, and I have to return to school in Paris, so I must bid you farewell."
"Paris?" Duke gently shook her hand. "The crew will be in Paris next week for promotion. I wonder…"
Princess Victoria understood Duke's implication. Leaning closer, she whispered a series of numbers, then said, "I could show you around the Seine."
After the Normandy D-Day anniversary, *Saving Private Ryan* was officially released in Europe's major markets. From England to Ireland, France to Germany, and Sweden to Italy, the film occupied nearly sixty percent of the mainstream theaters. The extensive promotional campaign also sparked a wave of movie-watching enthusiasm across Europe.
Much like in North America, World War II veterans were a major focus of the European promotion. Many veterans from Britain and France praised the film, and when the crew arrived in London, led by Tom Hanks, they frequently made public appearances and participated in various promotional events to build momentum for the European release.
Several Fleet Street tabloids, heavily influenced by News Corporation, quickly shifted their coverage to the cast and crew, constantly uncovering gossip and scandals to attract the attention of what could be considered the most gossip-hungry nation in the world.
As the film completed its first weekend in Europe, it also caught the attention of many European directors.
"The media can't wait to sing Duke Rosenberg's praises, calling his film a landmark in war cinema."
Jean-Pierre Jeunet placed his coffee cup down with a thud, his expression full of disdain. "No matter how touching the humanistic message or how realistic the war scenes, it doesn't change the fact that it's a purely commercial film. Duke Rosenberg is just another cog in Hollywood's vulgar production line. *Saving Private Ryan* is merely an extension of his destructive tendencies and commercial strategies!"
"Jean's absolutely right!"
Several French directors gathered in the café, and one chimed in, "Duke Rosenberg and Hollywood have no understanding of what art truly is!"
"Don't forget, Hollywood films now hold over ninety percent of the European market share!"
The heavy-set man sitting in the corner was none other than Luc Besson, who had long been ostracized by the European film community. "I just received the latest numbers for *Saving Private Ryan*: its third weekend in North America brought in $16.65 million, with a cumulative domestic total of $191.12 million. In the UK, its first week made $7.89 million, France $6.87 million, Germany $8.52 million, Spain $4.21 million, and Australia $4.11 million. The overseas box office surpassed $60 million in its first week!"
A brief silence followed in the café. Luc Besson scanned the faces of his companions, then continued, "Duke Rosenberg is only 25 years old, yet his film is sweeping the globe. Doesn't that tell us something? Can't European cinema learn anything from him? Are we just going to hand over the European market to Hollywood?"
A few people seemed to agree with Besson, but most shook their heads, clearly dismissing his views.
"Learn from Duke Rosenberg and Hollywood?"
Finally, the eldest of the group, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, broke the silence with a sneer. "You mean sully the art of cinema with commerce and money? Luc, you spent some time in Hollywood..."
As Jeunet launched into a lengthy discourse on the sanctity of art, Besson couldn't be bothered to respond further. To him, the so-called "art" these directors clung to was nothing more than endless nudity. Their disdain for Hollywood films? Was it truly sincere?
For example, the same Jean-Pierre Jeunet who was so quick to criticize Duke Rosenberg had just accepted an invitation to direct *Alien: Resurrection* in Hollywood. Was that for the sake of art? Did he plan to turn *Alien* into an arthouse film?
Or maybe he wanted the alien to have a romantic subplot with the female lead?
Shaking his head, Luc Besson stood up and walked out of the café without looking back. In his view, as long as these directors continued to hold sway in Europe, the continent's film industry would only continue to weaken, inching ever closer to its demise.
As *Saving Private Ryan* completed its first weekend in the overseas market, Duke led the crew to Paris.
....
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