In conjunction with the exhibition Reassembling Past Futures the ACF London will screen the classic Sissi trilogy depicting the life of Empress Elisabeth (Sissi) of Austria in three subsequent Wednesday screenings.

Artists Anna Artaker and Lilla Khoór juxtapose screen shots of the second Sissi film released in 1956, which depicts the creation of the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary in 1867, with images of Budapest from the same year. The stark contrast of these two sets of images questions how we depict history in order to redefine authorship.

Sissi - Die junge Kaiserin (The Young Empress) is the second film in the trilogy. Following the royal wedding the free-spirited young Empress moves to Vienna and struggles to adapt to the realities and lack of freedom that accompany her new privoleged position. In particular her relationship with Franz Joseph's mother the Archduchess Sophie is difficult. Sophie adheres to strict protocols which govern all apsects of life in the palace including the nursery. The film also depicts the Empress' interest in the Empire, especially Hungary. The film concludes with Sissi being crowned as Queen of the Hungarians in Budapest.

German with English subtitles

Cineclub will also screen the first and third installments of the trilogy followed by an Anti-Sissi programme including Death Watch with Romi Schneider and Peeping Tom with Karlheinz Böhm.