German Film Festival: Sisi & I

Vorhang auf (curtain up!) for the highly anticipated 2023 German Film Festival! Presented by Palace in collaboration with German Films, this year’s festival offers a magnificent showcase of the finest contemporary German cinema, including films from Austria and Switzerland. Boasting 33 key selections, this year’s festival offers the biggest and boldest programme yet, featuring a music-themed retrospective, a focus on female filmmakers, and Kino for Kids, a special sidebar dedicated to families and younger audiences. With something for everyone, this year’s festival promises to be wunderbar!

One of the standout features of the festival’s sidebar Frauen Am Werk: Focus on Female Directors, is Frauke Finsterwalder’s thought-provoking historical drama, Sisi & I. The film offers a unique perspective on the eccentric life of the iconic 19th century Empress Elisabeth of Austria and Queen of Hungary, also known as Sisi. Susanne Wolff plays the role of the Empress who lives in a women-only community in Corfu, Greece, with her new lady-in-waiting, Countess Irma von Sztáray (Sandra Hüller) who becomes fascinated by the extravagant reclusive Empress. Hüller’s portrayal of the ambitious, anxious Irma contrasts with Wolff’s portrayal of the confident, composed Empress, and is truly a magical dynamic with the chemistry between the two leads enthralling.

In Sisi and I, the intricate and intimate bond between two female characters is explored as they resist societal expectations and institutional pressures, eerily evoking comparisons to the life of Princess Diana or Meghan Markle. Despite their efforts, the outside world seeks to tame the untamed Empress, and upon returning to Vienna at the end of summer, life changes forever. The movie draws inspiration from Irma’s historical accounts and depicts her special connection with Sisi, incorporating modern feminist themes and bold fashion choices. The anachronistic costumes by Tanja Hausner elevate the timeless quality of the film, blurring the boundaries between the past and the present and freeing the characters from being mere historical figures. Alongside the gay Archduke Viktor, the women in the film seem to transcend their historical roles, creating a refreshing take on the historical costume genre. The film’s stunning visuals are enhanced by a female-focused rock and pop soundtrack, which perfectly complements the film’s overall tone, including a breathtaking rendition of T Rex’s ‘Cosmic Dancer’.

Sisi & I provides a multidimensional Empress Sisi, showcasing her independent spirit, forward-thinking ideas and her special connection with her lady-in-waiting. Fans of Netflix’s The Crown or critically acclaimed period black comedy The Favourite  will undoubtedly appreciate this exquisitely crafted period drama. The 2023 German Film Festival screens nationally at Palace Cinemas, Palace Nova Cinemas and Luna Palace Cinemas from 2 – 24 May.

FESTIVAL DATES
Melbourne, Brisbane, Byron Bay: 4 – 24 May
Sydney: 2 – 24 May
Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra: 3 – 24 May
https://germanfilmfestival.com.au/