Corsage

There are several different ways to watch this movie.

You could analyze its historical accuracy, and you would find grounds for criticism.

You could be bothered by the fact that we're expected to sympathize with an empress, and you would find her personal struggles tiny, even pathetic, compared to the realities of her people.

But you could also decide to enjoy the acting, the script and the beautiful settings. And I did. The brilliantly understated acting by Vicky Krieps forms the core of this movie, and she is supported by great performances by almost the entire cast. All in all, writer/director Marie Kreutzer and the actors make this story believable, even surprisingly relatable.

Corsage is a tale of a woman now and then a prisoner of fame a prisoner of formalities. Torturing depression that an empress can't escape, corsage captures the tragic reality of human lives that's glazed with grandeurs erupting from time to time, Vicky's performance is absolutely devoted and sharp along with the equally excellent work by the rest of the cast. The cinematography captures the simplicity and beauty of every moment very well. Great use of audio enriching each scene with melody. Corsage is a slow developing story about life that has a bittersweetness that would last for a good amount of time.

I've noticed a number of reviewers having difficulty with this film on grounds of its historical inaccuracy. I can't speak to any of that. Being myself blissfully ignorant of the relevant history, I was untroubled by such considerations as I settled into my seat at my local Picture House - perfectly happy to take it as Art: a work of speculative fiction, and a somewhat impressionistic one at that.

Treating it as such, I found it thoroughly engrossing: 1hr 54 well spent, IMO. The central performance by Vicky Krieps is wholly engaging and deliciously subtle, and its portrayal of an intelligent, creative spirit struggling to maintain sanity against a straitjacket (or should that be corset? That's the big metaphor, after all) of patriarchal social convention had me hook, line and sinker, from the opening scene to the (breathtakingly unexpected) final one.

In the interests of full disclosure might as well mention the two things I was less keen on. Neither of them deal-breakers, but...

1) In a couple of scenes, characters are heard singing late 20th century pop songs. This practice of inserting anachronistic modern detail into period drama has become a bit of a fad in the last few years, especially, it seems, in German productions (the recent TV series KaDeWe springs to mind as a prime example). My personal feeling is that it's a stylistic quirk that's been done to death and has outlived its welcome. Others may disagree!

2) One part of the story (we are told by the onscreen captions) takes place in "Northamptonshire". Yeah right. Northamptonshire my ***! Neither the architecture nor the scenery are remotely British. It's blatantly obvious that these scenes were shot, like the rest of the movie, in mainland Europe - most likely southern Germany or Austria. Perhaps the production budget wouldn't stretch to a trip across the channel? Ah well...

These minor niggles aside, though, I'm glad I went to see this movie. Its imagery will linger in my consciousness a long time. If you're debating whether or not to buy that ticket, I'd say go for it. :)

Based on a true story of the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria who was also Queen of Hungary: in the late 1800s, Elisabeth (Vicky Krieps) struggles with life and mental health mainly due to her troubled marriage with Emperor Franz Joseph (Florian Teichtmeister). She has recently turned forty and is further depressed by the changes in her appearance.

"Corsage" has a pleasant, steady flow all the way through and it is blessed with a fine lead performance by Krieps as well as European beauty and glamour (it takes place in various European locations).

There is occasional confusion regarding different time periods as the film is non-linear and some important parts of the film are deliberately revisionist. But it is a pleasant experience overall. It can also be praised for not taking sides in the various conflicts and showing compassion for all sides.

In drawing attention to unhappy royals, it's easy to think of a certain couple who recently cut ties with the British royal family. While it is true that even those at the top of the social hierarchy can be unhappy with their lot in life, they certainly have the means to make luxurious accommodations to alleviate their troubles. Elisabeth makes trips to England, Bavaria, and Italy while being waited upon. Maybe, there ought to be stories of those doing the waiting-upon as they may not have been happy with their lot in life either. But despite being privileged, it is still possible to sympathize with Elisabeth's life in a golden cage. - dbamateurcritic.

It has been many months since I came across a new film as satisfying as this one. The unusual device of seeding a big-budget costume drama with anachronisms to signal that something applicable across time is being communicated does alas lend itself to misunderstanding. It is good enough for this to be merely a vehicle for Ms. Krieps. That being a woman is complicated no matter the time period or the circumstances is enough for a premise.

To best be able to enjoy Corsage, I recommend finding out as little as possible about its many surprises in advance. But I do recommend finding out about the pertinent history and people, and in particular, to see the old Sissi films with Romy Schneider. This film is intended for German speakers, after all. I can easily imagine the two renditions of Empress Elizabeth as the same personality at different points in her life. Cf. Sisi (2021)

Hint: the secondary dictionary meaning of "corsage" is intended.