SISI & I

Germany, 2023, 132 minutes, Colour.

Sandra Huller, Suzanne Wolff, Georg Friedrich, Marcus Schleinzer, Anthony Calf, Tom Rhys Harries, Sybille Canonica, Stefan Kurt, Angela Winkler, Annette Badland

Directed by Frauke Finsterwalder

Sisi is the well-known and affectionate nickname for the Empress Elizabeth of Austria, Countess from Bavaria, married to the Emperor, Franz Joseph, Empress for four decades, whose son, Rudolf, was part of the murder-suicide pact at Mayerling.

Famous in her day, she has been the subject of theatrical dramas, television series and, from silent times not so long after her death, the focus of many films. In the mid-1950s, she was famous as being portrayed, young, by Romy Schneider in a trilogy of films. In more recent times, she was played by Vicki Krieps in Corsage. And, now, she is played by German actress, Suzanne Wolff.

However, the central character here is the Countess Irma, a Hungarian unmarried member of royalty, pressured by her dominating mother, auditioned as a companion for the Empress. In fact, Countess Irma was companion for the last four years of Elizabeth’s life, 1894-1898 when the Empress was assassinated by an anarchist.

The screenplay is a dramatisation, taking many cues from Elizabeth’s life, personality, manners, but treating them fictitiously, often with tongue-in-cheek. And this is compounded by the musical score, the range of 20^th and 21^st-century songs and their lyrics, something of a juxtaposition between what we hear and what we see.

Susanne Wolff’s haughtily regal as the Empress. But, this is Sandra Huller’s film, coming at the time of her great success with The Zone of Interest and Oscar nomination for Anatomy of a Fall. The film has a very strong supporting cast and some character actors for the episodes in Britain.

The setting is Corfu, the Empress separated from the Emperor, residing there, a houseful only of women, several fussing around her, and references throughout to her diet regime, considerations of health and weight, exercise, making demands on Irma. There is a visit from her effete cousin, Victor, a visit from her husband, discussions about the relationship, sexual issues, his sexual attack on her and the repercussions.

Malta stands in for Corfu and other locations, a visit to England and a meeting with Queen Victoria, the culmination in Switzerland. There is great attention to sets and decor, costumes.

Interesting in itself but also interesting when seen alongside the other versions of the Empress Elizabeth.

1. The title, the focus on the Empress, her nickname, popularity, affection? The Countess Irma, her background, Hungary, pressurised, auditioned, her companionship, her love for Elizabeth?
2. Audience knowledge of the Empress Elizabeth, from theatre, television, films? The image built up over the decades about her? Her actual life, from Bavaria, young, the pressure from her mother, marriage when young, mother when young, relationship with the Emperor, moving away, living in isolation, travelling, favouring Hungary? Her assassination?
3. Irma, with her severe mother, the audition, her not marrying, being accepted as companion, her age, manner, manner of dress, the travel, difficult, hungry, needing a wash, but the immediate demands made on her for exercise, weights, diet, keeping her hungry? The reaction of the young attendants around the Empress, confidential, giggling? Irma and the immersion in this world?
4. Costumes, décor, 19^th-century elegance, pomp, aristocrats, self-absorbed, attitude towards servants, households? Class and snobbery? The musical score, the contemporary songs and lyrics, counterbalance to the 19^th century opticals?
5. The court, Corfu, the beauty, the coast, the hiking? The count and his attendance? Elizabeth disdain? The young women and their fussing and giggling? Irma finding her place, summoned into action, to hike, dressing, her own dresses burnt, the Empress dictating her lifestyle?
6. The visit of Victor, his manner, theatrical, gay sensibility, flirtatious? His later return and care for Elizabeth, the final make up, urging her to come alive again?
7. The visit of the Emperor, their separation, his attitude, his requests, sexual relationship, his demanding she go to Switzerland, his aggressive sexual attack, his departure, the consequences for her?
8. The issues of exercise, fanaticism, weight, height, strict corsets, particularities of diet? The demands on Irma? The later sequences, Elizabeth persuaded to eat, her enjoyment of what she had given up for years, the effect?
9. The four years for Irma, love for Elizabeth, intimacy, Elizabeth’s reactions? Keeping her distance while asking Irma to express her love and devotion?
10. The visit to England, the country estate, the nobleman and his welcome, Smythe, the stables and horses, looking down on Elizabeth, the rivalry in the race, the growing intimacy, her wilfulness, deciding to leave, abandoning him? Irma and her observing the relationship, disapproval?
11. Going to Switzerland, the more relaxed way of life, Elizabeth and the prospect of life and death, Irma and the knife, the embrace, the attack of the anarchist, Elizabeth wounded, dying? Irma in attendance?
12. A particular portrait of the Empress Elizabeth?