Corsage, is a mainly a year in the life of Empress Elisabeth (Sissi) of Austria mainly around when she is 40-ish but extending to the end of her life, (listed as 60). It is nicely filmed apparently in grand Vienna buildings and various country scenes. As with many European period dramas it is slow -but acceptably so, just. The acting is good, but apart from Elisabeth, the characters are not well developed. Vicky Krieps didnt look quite like my idea of Elisabeth but she did give the impression of an Empress frustrated at the waste of her talents and time. And Elisabeth wouldnt sit for portraits much after teen age so my judgement may be awry.
Her story is interesting. She was married at 16 to Franz Joseph but didn't adjust well to the royal life. She almost certainly had an eating disorder as shown, and was obsessed with her waist size and diet and smoked. The marriage was strained. She was an intelligent, intellectually curious soul with Gym, fencing and equestrian skills and mastered new languages. She was regarded as one of the best horsewomen in Europe at the time. She was a filly pulling on the reins. These features are shown in the film but not developed. The intellect and talent along with the position of women, probably contributed to her frustration of court life.- However we are treated to scenes of her -- raising 1 finger leaving a dinner, -lying on a hospital bed with a patient, smoking, - dancing to a song written by the author of "Me and Bobby McGee" and ending her life in a manner that absolutely did not happen. There has always been some poetic licence with film histories but recently (Emily et al) it has got out of hand. It seems unfair and unnecessary, with a really fascinating character of the Hapsburgs to radically alter the facts. We like to learn history. The modern music I found jarring. ( I didn't seem to mind it in Marie Antoinette).
If you have been to Vienna it is nostalgic to roam through those grand rooms again. Go sit and largely enjoy the Movie -then hit the net and find out what really happened.
Her story is interesting. She was married at 16 to Franz Joseph but didn't adjust well to the royal life. She almost certainly had an eating disorder as shown, and was obsessed with her waist size and diet and smoked. The marriage was strained. She was an intelligent, intellectually curious soul with Gym, fencing and equestrian skills and mastered new languages. She was regarded as one of the best horsewomen in Europe at the time. She was a filly pulling on the reins. These features are shown in the film but not developed. The intellect and talent along with the position of women, probably contributed to her frustration of court life.- However we are treated to scenes of her -- raising 1 finger leaving a dinner, -lying on a hospital bed with a patient, smoking, - dancing to a song written by the author of "Me and Bobby McGee" and ending her life in a manner that absolutely did not happen. There has always been some poetic licence with film histories but recently (Emily et al) it has got out of hand. It seems unfair and unnecessary, with a really fascinating character of the Hapsburgs to radically alter the facts. We like to learn history. The modern music I found jarring. ( I didn't seem to mind it in Marie Antoinette).
If you have been to Vienna it is nostalgic to roam through those grand rooms again. Go sit and largely enjoy the Movie -then hit the net and find out what really happened.