Corsage

A beautifully shot and elegiac film that explores the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria as she navigates the expectations of her culture and her own desires. Vicky Krieps gives a layered and nuanced performance as Elisabeth, and the metaphor of the corset effectively symbolizes the constrictions of her privileged but powerless life. While the film is unabashedly fictionalized, it effectively captures the internal struggles of a woman who is constantly told what to do and who grapples with the fear of losing her beauty and power as she ages. The sumptuous settings and contemporary songs add to the overall atmosphere of the film, which is both poignant and thought-provoking. Overall, "Corsage" is a worthwhile watch for fans of historical dramas and those interested in exploring themes of beauty, power, and the constraints of societal expectations.

Vicky Krieps just might be the biggest name in European cinema right now: 2021 alone saw her star in six productions, under direction of everyone: from M. Night Shyamalan in Old (2021) to Mia Hansen-Løve in Bergman Island (2021) and Mathieu Amalric in Hold Me Tight (2021). Her performances have been consistently critically acclaimed, as is bound to be the case with Corsage.

Focussing on one year - 1878, we are reminded throughout the film - Corsage sets out to tell the story of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (1837-1898), known as Sissi, although the movie has no use for that nickname. The picture, written and directed by Austrian film-maker Marie Kreutzer, liberally blends fact and fiction: when asked how much of her work was faithful to history, Kreutzer said in an interview that she could not remember exactly. There are elements to the narrative (such as the ending) that are obvious inventions, while the rest is an amalgamation. The result is credible until it isn't; the background images being most at fault - who knew that electric floor lamps were so popular in the Kingdom of Bavaria. (Comparatively, the intentionally anachronistic music choices, like 'As Tears Go By' played on the harp, succeed in appearing an intrinsic part of the narrative.)

Corsage is very much a story of a person who sees herself as trapped while, possibly, enjoying the most freedom out of everyone we encounter. The visits Elizabeth pays to a psychiatric asylum and to see wounded, bed-ridden soldiers strike as performative, but the choice of her compassionate causes seems rooted in identifying her circumstances with theirs. Why, the empress cannot leave her position either - or can she?

Corsage is very successful in its depiction of a complex, not entirely sympathetic person. It is quite careless about the tools used to achieve that goal - yet, if you watch the film to its very last bit, the end credits include a scene of Vicky Krieps dancing in an empty gymnasium (the flaking paint is supposed to symbolise the decay of the monarchy). She is mesmerising. She is also wearing a false moustache, as a final reminder from Corsage to not take the production too literally.

Life begins at forty, or so they say, so much living to enjoy from that big day, you can starve yourself to death, injecting drugs, to reduce stress, seduce your cousin, to find he doesn't want to play. As an Empress, you have everything you want, the world outside wants to see what you have to flaunt, but you like to use a double, can't be bothered with the trouble, and you've cut your hair, to ridicule and taunt. It's been observed, that you've become, a little vain, look for compliments, to take away the pain, your husband's disengaged, you often cause him some outrage, you have disdain that you suck in, and then constrain.

Great performance from the wonderful Vicky Krieps but if you're not a huge fan of the character or the era you may find it a little less engaging than you might like.

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.

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.