THErestless, rebellious, beautiful, the Empress returns tonight at 21.20 with the second season of Sisi, German-Austrian series in which personal events are intertwined with the historical events of the second half of the nineteenth century. Romanticism, amorous impulses, geopolitical tensions and conflicts are the background for one of the most loved and studied figures of all time, told in a modern key. To interpret it Dominique Devenportwith next to Jannik Shuman as the Emperor of Austria Franz.
Six episodes, which Canale 5 airs in three episodes (two episodes per night). The second tomorrow 29 December. The third and last on January 4, 2023.
Sisiwhere were we
The absolute love between the bewitching princess and Franz has already blossomed. She at 16 in 1854 became the Empress of Austria. Intolerant, however, of the stringent and cruel court rituals that harness his nature as a rebel idealist. And in constant conflict with her mother-in-law the Archduchess Sofia (Désirée Nosbusch).
Mostly he has just returned from the death of his daughter Sofia, for which he feels responsible. For this he renounces the training of his other daughter Gisella, who he entrusts to his grandmother. At this point the distance between her and Franz is total.
Dominique Devenport. (Mediaset)
Previews of the first episode
We are in Vienna in 1858. Sissi gives birth to Rudolf, the long-awaited heir to the throne (who, however, will never get to the crown due to his suicide in 1889). But Sissi and Franz’s joy is clouded by the winds of war blowing over Europe.
Iron German Chancellor Otto von Bismark (Bernd Holscher) threatens a new conflict, wants that Austria is led by Prussia. Franz is forced to rearm his empire, but the scarce financial resources do not allow it. So he asks for help from France, meeting Napoleon III. Sissi accompanies him, she does everything to help her husband by showing off her enormous natural diplomatic talent.
Dominique Devenport, Sissi, and Giovanni Funiati, Count Andrassy. (Mediaset)
In France though there is a twist: the Austrian couple unexpectedly meet the Hungarian Count Andrassy (Giovanni Funiati). The danger of Hungary siding with Prussia against Austria is too great.
Sissi then decides to leave for Hungary to speak directly with Andrassy. He wants to make sure that Hungary is on Austria’s side in the war and knows that he has a particular influence on Andrassy. In fact, the attraction between the two is enormous and the journey, officially dictated by political reasons, also proves to be an opportunity for the Empress to rediscover the light-heartedness of the past.
Meanwhile Franz, from Vienna, has to solve the umpteenth geopolitical hitches: Bavaria does not want to grant him the use of the railway to transport soldiers. The emperor is therefore forced to find a way to persuade King Ludwig of Bavaria. Despite the distance, the union between Franz and Sissi is still strong. But it’s very close to giving in to Andrassy’s charisma.
Sissi pop icon, source of inspiration for series and films
There are many films and series inspired by the events of the Empress of Austria. The most famous film is undoubtedly Princess Sisi from ’55 with the magnificent Romy Schneider. This is the first of the trilogy, followed by Sissi, the young Empress of ’56 and since Sissi, the fate of an Empress of ’57.
The miniseries is more recent Sisi broadcast in two episodes by Rai in 2010 with the protagonist Cristina Capotondi. The new series is also very popular Netflix The Empress with Devrim Linnau.
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