Corsage

Jan 25, 2023
Corsage is a seditious biopic drama about a woman thrown into turmoil as she anticipates being considered an old woman, by 19th century standards. A fictional account of one year in the life of Empress Elizabeth of Austria (Vicky Krieps), she was idolized for her beauty and renowned for inspiring fashion trends. But in 1877, 'Sissi' celebrates her 40th birthday and must fight to maintain her public image by lacing her corset tighter and tighter. While Elizabeth's role has been reduced against her wishes to purely performative, her hunger for knowledge and zest for life makes her more and more restless in Vienna. Elizabeth travels to England and Bavaria, visiting former lovers and old friends, seeking the excitement and purpose of her youth. With a future of strictly ceremonial duties laid out in front of her, Elizabeth rebels against the hyperbolized image of herself and comes up with a plan to protect her legacy. [2022, Austria, 113 min, Rating: NR, in German with English subtitles] Nell Minnow of RogertEbert.com writes, “The sumptuous settings, elegiac tone, and Krieps' layered performance bring us into the world of this woman caught between the expectations of her culture and her own desires.” Linda Marric of The Jewish Chronicle, says, “Elevated by its brilliantly well-thought-out, anachronistic soundtrack, Corsage is an expertly crafted study in female rage against the establishment.”   Venue: Cinema Art Theater.
Corsage