Sissi has never been so fashionable! Since the trilogy with Romy Schneider, nothing notable had been created around this fascinating historical character. However, in recent months, we have seen two successful series hatch on “Netflix” and “Salto”, and a film, “Corsage”, released in French theaters on December 14th. Presented at Cannes last year in the “Un certain regard” selection, this feature film directed by the Austrian Marie Kreutzer met with great success in nearly 70 festivals where it received numerous awards, even being in the list of candidates to represent Austria for the next Oscar ceremony, in the category of best foreign film.
However, a very serious case comes to darken the hitherto perfect course of the history of this film… The actor Florian Teichtmeister, 43 years old, interpreting the major role of François Joseph in the film, has just been indicted for possession of child pornography material. A real thunderclap in the middle of the 7th Art ! And the first sanctions fall, like a cleaver.
The actor faces up to two years in prison
ORF public television, which co-financed the feature film, “immediately refrains from producing and broadcasting works with Florian Teichtmeister”, it warns on its website. According to this same audiovisual group, the cinema chain Cineplexx, which manages 400 rooms in twelve countries, has also withdrawn from the poster the film “Corsage”. In addition, the Austrian national theater Burgtheater, where the comedian is a member, announced his dismissal with immediate effect. But in Austria, the professional association of the film industry told AFP that it was maintaining “in consultation with the director and the producers” the candidacy of the feature film for the Oscars. You have to “make the difference” between the film and the conduct of its actor, she defends. As of this Friday, January 14, the lawyer of the Austrian actor had announced to the media the indictment, confirmed since by the parquet floor of Vienna, of his client. He intends to plead guilty and will be tried from February 8.
But what are the facts? Florian Teichtmeister is accused of having been in possession of a large amount of child pornography material, at least between February 2008 and August 2021. On this basis of accusation, the actor risks up to two years of deprivation of freedom. For her part, director Marie Kreutzer said she was “saddened and angry that a feminist film (…) is so dirty and damaged by the horrible actions of a single person”. Legal case to follow…
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VF