This Tuesday, December 19, W9 is broadcasting the first episodes of season 1 of “Sissi”, a historical series which looks back on the extraordinary life of the famous empress. Is it worth a look? Check out our review.
This Tuesday, December 19 from 9:05 p.m., W9 broadcasts the first four episodes of season 1 of Sissi, a historical series straight from Germany which looks back on the history of the iconic empress.
In the heart of 19th century Austria, Elisabeth of Wittelsbach, nicknamed “Sissi”, married Emperor Franz Joseph I. This young woman of noble lineage with a strong character will then access the imperial throne.
Under the scrutiny of the austere Archduchess Sophie and in a context where Austria suffered a defeat at the hands of Napoleon III’s France, Sissi refuses to submit to the rigid conventions of the monarchy.
Her independent character and her refusal to conform to the customs of the imperial court made her a singular figure, struggling to establish herself in an environment where every gesture was scrutinized.
Who is it with?
To play Sissi, who was previously played by Romy Schneider, the production called on Dominique Devenport, a young American-Swiss actress who gets her first major role here. Her husband, Emperor Franz Joseph I, is played by Jannik Schümann, a German actor whose face is perhaps not unfamiliar to you since he has made appearances in Enemy Hearts and Monster Hunter. Archduchess Sophie is played by Désirée Nosbusch, seen in the German thriller Bad Banks.
The production was entrusted to Sven Bohse, a regular in historical series since he previously worked on Berlin 56. Elena Hell and Robert Krause were responsible for the script, under the direction of Andreas Gutzeit.
It’s worth checking out ?
The story of Sissi has been told over and over again, the most emblematic version remaining that of Romy Schneider which, more than 65 years after its release, continues to fascinate crowds. Tackling the myth of the empress was therefore a risky gamble for Beta Films and RTL Deutschland, which nonetheless managed to meet the challenge with flying colors.
For this new iteration, Andreas Gutzeit, screenwriter on the series, has chosen to tell us a story that is much less smooth and embellished than in the 1955 version. Realism is the key word of this new adaptation, which therefore makes a point of honor to place the intrigues in the historical context of the time.
Another very refreshing change: the series is much more sulphurous than what we had seen previously. Like The Bridgerton Chronicles, which probably influenced the screenwriters, the sexuality of the characters is brought to the fore, from the opening sequence, in which the innocent Sissi has a little solitary pleasure. A way for the series to free itself from the now cult trilogy.
RTL
And Franz is not to be outdone: fine games, visits to brothels, drugs and so on… nothing is spared him and that’s a good thing. A man of his stature in the 19th century very rarely had to wait until his wedding night to indulge in the pleasures of the flesh. Jannik Schümann’s Franz is also angry and sanguine, sometimes bordering on violence, whether psychological or physical, towards his wife.
In addition to this revolution in character construction, this 2021 version also shines with its breathtaking shots. Sven Bohse, the director, offers us exterior shots worthy of the greatest Hollywood productions. Beta Films has put in the resources, and it shows.
As for the casting, the production has chosen to base this ambitious series on the shoulders of two actors almost unknown to the international public. Dominique Devenport, who had not seen the films before landing the coveted role, captivates with her large eyes full of innocence and manages without difficulty to slip into the skin of Elisabeth.
RTL
Opposite her, Jannik Schümann, one of the hopes of German cinema, offers us a nuanced interpretation of Franz which will not fail to convince the few holdouts. Between them, they form a glamorous couple that will make more than one person dream.
If Sissi is above all a romantic series telling an epic love story, it remains a gripping series, visually very beautiful, and much more sulphurous than what we have seen previously. It now remains to be seen whether the screenwriters will choose to address the less rosy aspects of the Empress’s story, notably her unhappy marriage, her anorexia and her depression, which ate away at the Empress until her death, in 1888.