Who hasn’t heard of Empress Elisabeth, or Sisi, as she was called? Born to the ducal couple of Bavaria on 24 December 1837, she married Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria. They had four children, including Crown Prince Rudolf, who tragically committed suicide in 1889. Sisi’s status as a beauty icon, her eccentric character, and, above all, her own tragic death at the hands of an assassin have shaped her legacy as one of the most renowned—and unhappiest—members of the Habsburg family.
If your Christmas Eve allows a couple of hours for a movie, I’d like to recommend Corsage (2022), starring Vicky Krieps, who earned several awards for her portrayal of Sisi. However, it’s worth remembering that the film is highly fictionalised, so you shouldn’t expect great historical accuracy. Its main strength lies in its psychological portrait of the Empress, artistically conveying the ambivalence and aspirations of a tortured soul without leaving an unpleasant aftertaste. I highly recommend it.
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