The story of Empress Sisi has been told in various productions from the whimsical Romy Schneider's version of 1955 to a darker version also played by her in Ludvig in 1972. The current version seems to bring us a more rounded, more human Sisi. The storyline provides a balanced view of courtly and private life. The production crew is a most pleasant surprise. It must be congratulated all around, especially for the scene following Sisi's wedding, where she faces her adoring crowd. It is worthy of Visconti evoking a combination of surreal beauty and emerging awareness of her coming role. The soundtrack perfectly represents the mood of the characters and their situation. It summons a sense of foreboding; not is all well in the beautiful palace. The characters wonder how things are outside the palace walls. If only they could speak.
Review of The Empress
