“Corsage” is a 2022 film written and directed by Marie Kreutzer. The film is a historical drama that tells the story of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (1837-1898), known by the nickname “Sisi,” played by Vicky Krieps.
The film follows one year of Empress Elisabeth of Austria and her philandering semi-estranged husband, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria (played by Florian Teichtmeister.)
Nearing her 40th birthday, Sisi feels lonely, bored, and full of despair and has no sense of purposelessness. She struggles with the concept that she was once idolized for her beauty and is now deemed an old woman and unable to do as she pleases. She is not allowed to travel or raise her children as she would like. She clearly disdains her position and the regimented life it holds, with its rituals and protocols, but also embraces her entitlements.
Tensions arise from Elisabeth’s role in the dual Monarchy, which makes her the ruler of two countries she has no say over. Her reign is that of her staff, subjects, and children. Throughout this period, she begins to show defiance toward the institution of the Monarchy.
She finds it challenging as she reaches her 40th birthday and grapples with the idea. Others chatter about her looks, preoccupation with body weight, and peculiar behaviors.
Her rebellion is not overly apparent. It comes in subtle spurts and recklessness. She is a character stuck between two worlds, the suffocating pomp and yet the enjoyment of its privileges—a tale of an unhappily entitled woman struggling with her mental health and justification for life.
The movie concludes with a powerful and mesmerizing visual, which reflects the turmoil of the character in a beautiful way. It’s one of the most impressive endings in contemporary cinema.
The Other Cinema 