Film 'Io e Sissi' Explores Queer Undertones Between Empress and Lady-in-Waiting

The film 'Io e Sissi', directed by Frauke Finsterwalder and starring Sandra Hüller as Irma von Sztáray and Susanne Wolff as Empress Elisabeth (Sissi), premieres in Italian theaters on July 4, 2024, distributed by Movies Inspired. The movie was nominated for the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. It shifts focus from the empress to her lady-in-waiting, Irma, a historically attested figure. The plot follows Irma, who is captivated by Sissi's modern, unconventional mindset as the empress retreats from court life to an aristocratic women's commune in Greece. The official synopsis states that the only rule is that no one must be bored and the empress decides the game's rules. Finsterwalder said she wanted to explore Aristotle's question of friendship and power imbalances, avoiding a conventional biopic. The film hints at a queer relationship between the two women. Sandra Hüller won the Palme d'Or at Cannes for 'Anatomy of a Fall' and also starred in 'The Zone of Interest'.