Sisi & I 2024

In the scorching heat of late 19th century Hungary, Countess Irma Sztáray, a single and middle-aged woman, finds her independence overshadowed by her overbearing mother who insists she pursue a position as a lady-in-waiting to the enigmatic and reclusive Empress Elisabeth of Austria, known more commonly as Sisi. This extravagant and temperamental monarch has long been estranged from her husband, choosing instead to retreat to an aristocratic commune on the idyllic Greek island of Corfu, where only women reside.

Upon her arrival at the estate, Irma is engulfed by a sense of fear and trepidation, having recently endured a mortifying interview with her predecessor and still reeling from the exhausting journey. As she begins to adapt to her new role, Irma finds herself increasingly at the mercy of her demanding mistress, sacrificing her own desires and comforts to meet Sisi’s rigid expectations. Despite her initial apprehensions, Irma gradually succumbs to the Empress’s will, embracing a more austere and Japanese-inspired aesthetic in a bid to gain the favor of her demanding employer.

Their journey takes them from Corfu to Algiers, traversing Bavaria to England. Throughout these travels, a bond develops between the two women — one that is both intimate and fraught with complexities, as Sisi insists on controlling their co-dependent relationship with an iron fist. However, everything drastically changes upon their horrifying return to Vienna, where Sisi’s husband, the Emperor, cruelly assaults her.

In the wake of this shocking trauma, Sisi turns to Irma, compelling her to carry out a gruesome act of revenge by murdering her with a makeshift shiv, all while placing the blame on an Italian anarchist. This pivotal moment irrevocably alters the course of both their lives, illustrating the dark depths of power, revenge, and dependency in a world where loyalty is often overshadowed by the harsh realities of aristocratic life.