Austria in 1854: The young Bavarian Duchess Elisabeth takes the hand of the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph in marriage in the festively decorated Augustiner Church in Vienna - amid the rejoicing of the people, "Sisi", the child of nature, becomes the Empress of Austria. This fairytale beginning is soon darkened by deep shadows. When the golden cage becomes too restrictive, Elisabeth flees from the constraints of court and travels wist-fully through distant countries - always searching for true happiness. The powerful language of Karl Tschuppik's texts on the life of the Empress Elisabeth still cannot be equalled and it recreates the splendour and the tragedy of the monarchy.