Screening times:
Friday, October 4, 6:30 PM
Saturday, October 5, 6:30 PM - Half-capacity screening
Frauke Finsterwalder | Germany, Switzerland, Austria | 2023 | 132m | German, French with English subtitles
with Sandra Hüller, Susanne Wolff, Georg Friedrich, Stefan Kurt
In late 19th century, Countess Irma Sztáray (Sandra Hüller) leaves her home in Hungary to become the lady-in-waiting for Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Susanne Wolff), known by her friends as Sisi. Irma falls under the spell of the rebellious Empress Sisi and the two become close during a summer retreat in Greece, but that's just the beginning of their turbulent relationship, which leads from Corfu to Algiers to Great Britain and back to mainland Europe.
Frauke Finsterwalder's film is a study of friendship within unequal power dynamics. In her era, Empress Elisabeth had pop star levels of fame and wealth. The Countess Sztáray is ostensibly her servant, but she's also someone who the Empress soon comes to rely on for companionship and advice. The connection is complicated by the mental health challenges for both women, eating disorders, and the expectations of their class and roles.
Empress Elizabeth is still a cult figure to many, inspiring European filmmakers: The 2022 Marie Kreutzer film Corsage, starring Vicky Krieps, was also about her. What distinguishes Sisi & I and undermines any possibility of period stuffiness is a playfulness in the script and in the performances, supported by an anachronistic approach in both music and costume — don't be surprised when songs by Portishead and Le Tigre bump up against T Rex and Nico, while the lead characters eschew corsets. Historical realism isn't what Sisi & I is offering.
The director wrote the role of Irma for Hüller, the Academy Award-nominated star of Anatomy Of A Fall, The Zone of Interest, and Toni Erdmann. "She is an actress who, like no other in her generation, can combine horror and sadness with humour and play with incredible self-irony," says Finsterwalder, who also confirms only Susanne Wolff was considered for the role of the Empress. "She has an intangible presence that is immediately palpable when she enters the room. Sandra and Susanne are like night and day. One has to decide where one would rather look. The eye cannot rest."
"Tackling the Sisi story from an entirely new perspective, Frauke Finsterwalder offers a thought-provoking and entertaining glance at the famous empress." -Susanne Gottlieb, Cineuropa
"It resembles a 19th-century, rustic, chic, more joyous version of The Devil Wears Prada" -Sarah Vincent, Boston Movie News
Best Director - Bavarian Film Awards
Best Costume Design - German Film Award
Best Costume Design - Austrian Film Award
Tickets $8.75 ($8 cash at the door if available).
Saturday, half-capacity
