Sissi, l'impératrice rebelle

I saw this film only for Ariell Dombasle. The expectation about historical accuracy was very low, the predictibility of a sentimental story, too sentimental , maybe, very high. And indeed, the dissapointment was impossible in this conditions. Because the story seems a pretext for the classic series about Sissi in other manner. Arielle Dombasle gives her Elisabeth and she does it well , if you do not ignore the long career of actresss, the surprises are far to be existent. A beautiful pink film. And that is all.

Arielle Dombasle had only one great moment in that movie. The scene shortly before her murder when she is walking along with Countess Staray...Maybe we have here a glimpse what the real Elisabeth of Austria looked like (Arielle Dombasle having the same figure)...but...There were so many erroneous things...ex: Sisi singing (she did not...her sister Sophie, Duchess of Alencon, had a singing voice...The death of Crownprince Rodolph...A) it took place in winter (29th January 1889)...Sisi was not present in Mayerling...(I think that makes the whole film look not serious) The death of the the emperor s mother (Erzherzogin Sophie) She was present alright and stayed till the end but I doubt that you have that sort of discussions with a dying woman (ok might have been in her thoughts) and many other things...No, that movie is not worth looking at....Sorry

In reality that happened: the royal mother in law and father in law lunched with the couple the day after the wedding and gave her the money in public. This troubled young Elisabeth so much that she never forgot the issue. We must remember she was only 16. She was so embarrassed that she kept a fear for sex all her life. Perhaps this began to appear as a trauma. Also the constant meddling of her aunt and mother in law. As you say, she kept all her children away from her, critiqued her teeth and manners (which she considered inappropriate for an empress), and when Sissi finally went to Venice with her husband and children, her eldest daughter died, and the mother in law blamed her for that unfortunate and premature death. She never recovered.

Much has been written, and filmed about Sissy the Empress, and Romy Schneider will always BE Sissy to many. However, this new version, a novel, much more realistic take on her life (and times), is in my opinion the most honest, most succinct, and least melodramatic. It's also as devoid of "Sissy clichés" as is possible, and avoids over romanticizing the character, while giving her real humanity for once.

The French-German co-production makes for an interesting cast. Both young and adult Sissy speak French, as does the mature Franz Josef, and most characters. But to Europeans, this is not a problem. After all, in Sissy's last appearance by Romy Schneider in LUDWIG, the German speaking character (and actress) spoke English (only confirmed by reading her lips) but was dubbed into Italian, as the King Ludwig character did as well, though in historical context, the characters spoke German, and Bavaria-style at that. Anyway, on TV the dubbing is not as obvious. And it is mostly shown on cable TV.

That said, the choice of beautiful French actress Arielle Dombasle was perfect, even though her reputation for her roles as a dumb blonde in her younger days may turn some off before giving this film a chance. The other lead roles are also well cast, and mostly French. The cinematography, the locales, costumes, and art design are sumptuous - something which cannot be said of the low budget "Sissy" films of the late 50s. It is definitely a must for European history lovers, and "Sissy" fans. It's a very entertaining biopic and history lesson even for those who know nothing about Sissy, and are not seeking a history lesson. 10/10.

This was a movie that could have been great if there were not so many unnecessary historical inaccuracies and if the actors had been chosen or made up to look a little more like the real persons (not very difficult). Sissi did not go to Mayerling to see her dead son, she also did not die in the street; they carried her on to the boat and then back to the hotel, which was much more dramatic. I am not sure about the wedding night, but I find it exaggerated that a lady-in-waiting would undress the empress and leave her completely naked (and that in the 1850's) or that the emperor would announce very proudly "yes I finally laid her" to the assembled court. As far as I know this was done right away on the first night and nobody rewarded her as if she were a streetwalker. The saving grace of the movie is really Stephane Audran, excellent actress and true to character.