Corsage (2022) by Marie Kreutzer is a powerful examination of the relationship between modern feminist criticism and historical reimagining. The film challenges ideas of hegemonic femininity, royal expectation, and the weight of public life via anachronisms and visual symbolism, anchored by Vicky Krieps’ stunning portrayal as Empress Elisabeth of Austria. A woman at odds with her image, society, and self is depicted viscerally and hauntingly by Corsage through the fictionalised 40th year of Elisabeth.
Symbolism in Constraint
The story’s criticism of incarceration is anchored by the title corsage, which serves as both clothing and a symbol. Within patriarchal regimes, the corset becomes a tool of symbolic and physical measuring, delineating the boundaries of femininity. Despite the obvious cost, Sisi’s persistence in tightening the laces reflects a deliberate attempt to succeed within these limitations. Her back has welts from the corset, which is glaring proof of the sacrifices she made to keep up a romanticised self-image. However, when physical scars disappear, a more profound emotional legacy is left behind, serving as a continual reminder of her captivity. In the end, her deliberate conformity to social norms highlights their pointlessness; no amount of control can guarantee her autonomy or respect outside of her assigned function.
A Futile Arithmetic
The film’s presentation of dominant femininity’s intrinsic futility serves as its criticism. The contradiction of attaining perfection while yet being disposable is personified by Sisi. She is no longer relevant since her position as a royal, wife, mother, and icon is complete. Her life’s equation is straightforward: obedience plus attractiveness equals approbation. However, when her attractiveness diminishes and her efforts to participate in meaningful conversation—whether it be about Sarajevo’s instability or raising her kids—are rejected, the equation no longer holds. This futility is emphasised by Sisi’s thoughts about her departed daughter Sophie. According to her, Sophie’s portrait-preserved visage is more colourful than the kid ever was. The tragedy of femininity is summed up in this obsession with appearances: women are valued as pictures but neglected as people.
Rebellion as an Escape Clause
Sisi rebels in little but effective ways. Her intentional rebalancing of her relationship with power is evident in her attempts to cut her hair, pretend to be unwell, and even end her life. Her rejection of a life constrained by expectations is shown by these instances of disobedience. A last recalculation: an exchange of visibility for independence is represented by cutting her famous hair, which symbolises the deletion of her image. This action reflects a larger criticism of structural oppression, which holds that achieving autonomy often necessitates completely renouncing social duties. Sisi’s absence is an escape from the overwhelming total of her limitations, not an act of abandonment.
The Cost of Empathy
Asylums and hospitals are visited by Sisi, revealing the mathematics of suffering in her society. These institutions calculate human value in terms of utility, silencing those deemed excessive or unnecessary. Sisi’s empathy for these patients underscores her understanding of shared oppression, though her privilege distinguishes her suffering. As punishment for weeping too much over a lost child, a lady is held in a boiling bath in one terrifying scenario. In another, a soldier has been lobotomised and has had their identity removed. These experiences demonstrate the dehumanising logic of institutional control, which suppresses individuality to preserve order.
Vicky Krieps and the Geometry of Performance
The way that Vicky Krieps plays Sisi is a superb example of how to embody contradiction. Her deliberate motions and controlled steps contrast with her unguarded sensitivity. In a crucial sequence, Sisi climbs a staircase while staring into the camera’s eyes. This composition’s geometry draws the observer into her struggle and forces us to face the structures that support her captivity. The subtleties of a woman who both resents and supports the systems that constrain her are shown in Krieps’ portrayal. Her portrayal of Sisi goes beyond historical representation, making her a timeless character negotiating the impossibly complex equations of womanhood.
A Historical Equation for the Present
Historical films often capture the present just as much as the past, as Teresa De Lauretis claims. Corsage demonstrates this idea by comparing Sisi’s hardships to current concerns about gender and power. The vilification of Sisi and the way that women like Meghan Markle are treated in the media today are similar, according to director Marie Kreutzer. These relationships highlight the ongoing pressure that society places on women in the public eye.
Conclusion
Corsage emphasises the idea of appearance as a planned, performative act from the very first scenes. In an almost mathematical fixation with preserving a figure representative of her symbolic role, Sisi measures her waist precisely and insists that the tape be pulled tighter. Her clothing, which is often in violet hues, symbolises two lives: one that is open to the public and another that is shrouded in inner anguish. Violet, a colour that lies between the visible and invisible spectrums, is a fitting metaphor for Sisi’s life. Her relationships and even her acts of disobedience are influenced by her continual calculations about how to come across as lovely, calm, and regal. Her battle to assert agency in a system that treats her like a spectacle is reflected in every gesture she makes, from the candied violets she gives to asylum patients to her staged fainting episodes.
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FAQs
Is Corsage historically accurate?
Although it has historical roots, Corsage uses artistic license and anachronisms to heighten its thematic impact.
What does the corset symbolize?
The corset is a symbol of the limitations placed on women by society, highlighting the psychological and physical costs of upholding unrealistic standards.
How does the film address contemporary relevance?
The movie criticises persistent demands on women to fit into traditional norms by drawing comparisons between Sisi’s life and contemporary personalities.
What role does calculation play in the narrative?
Sisi’s existence is based on calculation, which emphasises the pointlessness of her calculated rebellions and unrelenting quest for perfection.
Why is Sisi’s hair-cutting significant?
In a poignant meditation on the mathematics of identity, freedom, and femininity, Marie Kreutzer’s Corsage charts the cost of conformity while presenting rebellion as a path to liberation, albeit one fraught with loss.
