Elisabeth's life started like a romantic fairytale and ended with a tragic murder.

When she was 16 years of age, she ascended the Austrian throne as a young girl of radiant beauty. Emperor Franz Joseph chose her as his wife instead of her sister, Helene, who had been selected. He was unable to resist her joie de vivre, her carefree manner and youthfulness. But the first dark shadows started to gather soon after the festive wedding. There were strict rules at the Viennese Court. Deprivation and power struggles made life a misery for young Elisabeth. Her strict mother-in-law, Archduchess Sophie, watched her mercilessly and insisted that she complied with the rigid protcol. Imprisoned by court conventions and a role model which did not suit her, Elisabeth fought with all her power for her freedom and personal happiness. Her husband was unable to help her. He was subjected to his duties and at the mercy of his domineering mother. She hardly remained at the Viennese Court, her inner conflict drove her from place to place. She travelled restlessly through Europe, not available for anyone, neither for her son nor her husband. She got lost in her own world, always accompanied by a mysterious force - Death. After the suicide of her son, Rudolf, Elisabeth recognised her unsuccessful life and then longer for Death herself. She withdrew to Corfu, wrote poetry and kept her diary whilst nationalism and racism were gaining the upper hand more and more in Vienna. Emperor Franz Joseph was no longer able to control these forces and was also helpless with respect to his rival, all powerful Death.

The assassination by the Italian anarchist, Luigi Lucheni, on the banks of Lake Geneva brought the "lovers" together. Elisabeth's struggles and longings ended in a passionate embrace with Death. One epoch disappeared, a new era began