Corsage (2022)

CORSAGE is about one year in the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria. I’ve just finished browsing through the Wikipedia entry on this historical figure, and her life is fascinating. Given the rich material available, it is difficult to understand how such a boring movie could be made.

The movie starts with Elisabeth (played by Vicky Krieps) on her 40th birthday, receiving a corsage from her husband, Emperor Franz Joseph I. This is the only time we see them together as a couple, and it’s clear that their relationship is strained. From then on, the film follows Elisabeth through various events in her life – meetings with political figures, visits to spas, and horseback riding – all of which are captured in long takes with minimal dialogue.

The film is beautifully shot with a muted palette and often features Elisabeth in the centre of the frame, emphasizing her loneliness. The acting is also quite good, with Krieps conveying Elisabeth’s inner turmoil through subtle facial expressions. Unfortunately, this isn’t enough to save CORSAGE from its biggest problem – it’s too slow and dull. There are some exciting moments here and there, but they don’t add too much as the film plods along at a snail’s pace.

The main issue with CORSAGE is that it fails to capture the essence of Elisabeth’s life and her place in history. We get snippets of her relationship with Franz Joseph, but there is no honest exploration of their dynamic or why they stayed together for so long. Similarly, we learn nothing about Elisabeth’s political views or how she may have influenced the Austrian Empire during her lifetime. Instead, we are left with a series of disconnected scenes which fail to do justice to the complexity of her life.

CORSAGE is a well-made but unsatisfying film that fails to capture the spirit of its subject. The cinematography and performances are strong, but they can’t make up for an inert script that never entirely comes alive. It’s a shame that such a fascinating figure has been reduced to this listless biopic – one which could have been so much more.

(In cinemas in Australia – check your movie guide for local show times.)