Original subtitles

Yes, Father. I am listening.

Do not be too proud

but fear the duty you have been called to fulfill.

Because from now on, your path to salvation

will be more arduous.

Yes, Father.

Learn to be humble.

This is the best thing I can wish you.

It will be your duty

to listen to the words and warnings of those around you

and to follow their advice.

Remember, a truly great man

is humble

and overlooks his pride.

Yes, Father.

You know I have been waiting in anguish for this day.

But now my fears have gone.

Lately I have been feeling serene

because I have understood how I should use my power.

And it seems so simple and wonderful.

I will be able to gather around me wise men, great minds and famous artists.

And I will humbly ask for their help.

I will have great monuments built for them in my kingdom

like all the great kings did throughout history.

- I will become a better person. - With the help of God.

In the fear of God.

At the service of God.

And now, say the Act of Contrition.

'O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee.'

There is something that justifies how I feel

as I begin to conduct with you today

this difficult and painful inquiry

which aims at establishing if our King

is still, in our opinion

fit to rule our bereaved, ill-fated

despised, ridiculed and tormented Bavaria

without betraying the unwavering trust of his people.

What I am referring to

is that I am one of the few...

One of the very few ministers who has been in office without suspension

since March 1864.

Since the day when, full of illusions and hopes, we all applauded

our prince as he was crowned and ascended to power.

The Secretary of the Treasury.

And now the ambassadors.

Their Excellencies the Ambassadors of Prussia and Austria.

Excuse me, Your Highness.

- His Majesty is almost ready. - Very well.

- Only two more minutes. - Thank you.

Thank you.

Your Majesty, the King would like to see you.

Thank you.

Champagne.

Go ahead.

I would like to remind my illustrious colleagues of our astonishment when

during the first meeting convened by His Majesty, we were told that

the only necessary and urgent thing that need to be done

was tracing immediately Maestro Wagner

and trying everything in our power to convince him

to move to our country.

What is this?

Private reports given to me by the police agents

that I sent to find Wagner, Sire.

Why did you involve the police?

I am not a detective, Your Majesty.

Mr Wagner is proving very difficult to locate.

He is not in Munich, Vienna or Neuchâtel

even though he was in all these places

until just before our police agents arrived.

As Your Majesty can see from report number four,

it seems that Mr Wagner is on his way to Stuttgart.

But I am waiting for confirmation.

From who? From other police agents?

I thought I had made myself very clear. I do not want to arrest Wagner.

In all humility, I want to ask him to pay me the honor of a visit.

I am sure that having a great poet and composer such as Wagner here

could be very useful and prestigious for us.

You should not have sent police agents to deliver my invitation.

Most probably, and quite rightly, he felt offended.

This is why it is hard to find him.

If my information is correct, as I believe,

Wagner is not trying to avoid our agents, Your Majesty, but his creditors.

Nonsense!

If Wagner is in Stuttgart, I will go there personally

to apologize and invite him here.

May I remind Your Majesty

that our First Minister recommends that Your Majesty goes to Bad Ischl?

Apart from the Emperor of Austria and Empress Elisabeth

there will be the Hereditary Prince of Prussia, the Tsarina

The First Minister does not realize

that our friendship with Wagner is more important

than meeting the monarchs holidaying in Bad Ischl.

I am indeed afraid he does not realize it, Sire.

Explain it to him. And tell him that I will stay here!

I am not going anywhere until they find Wagner!

In this case, I will try to resolve the problem personally.

- It is only a matter of money. - Let us not make any more mistakes.

I want him to receive a letter and a gift from me as soon as possible.

Maybe I should have been clearer, Sire.

I agree. A gift is essential.

Now, as regards His Majesty's trip to Bad Ischl...

It has been a long time since we last saw each other, mon cousin.

Sometimes I feel very uncertain about my future as an Empress

and so I am working on an alternate career - a circus horsewoman.

You have changed a lot.

Ma cousine.

Mon cousin... How long has it been since we last saw each other?

Five years... No, more.

Five years and six months.

You have an excellent memory.

Thank you. See you tomorrow.

I am sorry I could not be at your coronation, but I was...

Where was I? Let me think.

Your ambassador said you were ill in bed.

It is not true. I was going to come.

But then the thought of meeting all my relatives made me change my mind.

- The same happened to me today. - Really?

I was about to go for dinner when I heard you were here.

- Who told you? - My aide-de-camp. He knows everything.

He knew you were not going to attend tonight's official dinner

with the excuse of being ill, as usual.

He also knew where you were.

So... I came here looking for you.

I suppose you pretended to be ill as well.

You have definitely changed, mon cousin. You are much more handsome.

You have become the most handsome king in Europe.

It is not a great compliment, though.

- Are you here to spy me or to see me? - I do not know.

Both.

You also gave me an excuse to avoid the dinner.

I am not used to official gatherings yet but I suppose it is just a matter of habit.

- You run away too. - Yes, you are right.

Every time I feel like it, but always before everyone's eyes.

It is true.

People have been telling me. You look more and more like me.

- Do you not think, mon cousin? - I do not know.

I would like to, though.

- Would you? - Why not?

I would like it too.

You can return to the inn, Countess Ferenczy. I have an escort.

- Very well, Your Majesty. - Am I right?

- I do not want to go home right away. - As you wish.

- I am your hostage. - Of course.

Changes can be deceiving.

New places, new faces, new habits to learn.

In other words

there was enough to make someone like me feel content.

At the beginning, I did not even miss my family.

I had a lot to do, a husband to love

before I realized that he did not know what to do with my love.

He was looking for love elsewhere.

I had a mother-in-law to win over

before I realized that she is actually a hateful woman.

She even denied me the right to raise my children.

My own children, entrusted with tutors, generals and priests

became strangers to me.

Then, all of a sudden, you discover

that the house you have been living in is only a glum and sinister palace.

You do not understand how you could spend 10 years trapped in there.

How awful.

You feel betrayed, like a butterfly that flies into a house

attracted by the light and ends up being locked inside.

I realized it all of a sudden, as if I had woken up from a long sleep.

My illness was the sorrow.

Then one day I left. Madera,

Corfu, Greece,

Italy. Yes, Italy.

Since then, escaping has been my defense weapon.

They say I am eccentric, but they said so even before.

When they realized that I hated Hofburg like a prison

that I did not want a husband who was always far away at war...

Whatever I do or say, I am criticized.

So why should I not do what I like?

I have always heard people talking about you with deep admiration.

Yes.

Whenever I visit a hospital, injured soldiers applaud me and cry.

During official visits I am much admired

but they want me to be beautiful just to charm someone.

You will have to do the same here.

Who are you looking to charm? The tsar?

I have heard that they want you to marry his daughter.

I have heard it too.

But... I do not want to get married yet.

- I am 19. - I was 16 when I got married.

Now they say I was too young and that is why I got tired so soon.

They say I have many lovers, even among the grooms!

Do you think it is true?

I think any man would fall in love with you.

You are very kind, but this is not an answer.

Do you think it is true or not?

I have never heard about it.

You do not want to answer. Fine.

I will ask you something else, then. Is it true what many people say about you?

What do they say?

- You have never been with a woman. - I am a Catholic.

Is that why?

They say you like being on your own...

that you despise those around you...

that you go horse riding at night.

They call you 'The Moonlight Lover.'

I do it too. But I do not feel like Siegfried.

I have never thought I was Siegfried.

Until tonight.

Do you know the only time Siegfried is scared?

When he sees a woman for the first time in his life.

- Thank you. - Gentlemen...

- Ma cousine. - She is not all that.

Who?

The Tsarina. You must not marry her. I forbid you.

I will obey. Give me orders and I will always obey you.

Careful. I could take you seriously.

It is not true. You are always joking with me.

You do not understand.

You are very handsome, but not very bright, my dear Ludwig.

That is why I need you.

It does not look like it. I have heard you are leaving tomorrow.

I have to.

If it stops snowing, in three days there will be a full moon.

I will be alone.

We could go horse riding at night. Would you accompany me?

What is so urgent in Munich? Who is waiting for you?

I sense that you are hiding something from me.

I will ask our secret service.

His Majesty left for Bad Ischl after the arrival of Wagner in Munich.

The prolonged absence of the King

made people hope that the young daughter of the Tsar

had helped the King forget

his theater projects and his beloved Wagner

who in the meantime showed his true colors.

He was a profiteer.

For pity's sake! This house is not good for me at all.

It has to be furnished throughout.

The curtains need changing. I need a new piano.

Much of the furniture is yet to arrive from Vienna to replace what I do not like.

Nothing is missing. I think everything looks even too beautiful.

Too beautiful? What do you mean by that?

Nothing is "too beautiful" in the house where I have to work.

Do they think I am some sort of beggar who sleeps on dirty rags?

I despise everything that is mediocre.

I need the best to be able to work.

Even better, I need security.

The uncertainty of the future unnerves me, it makes me ill.

It makes me unable to compose.

Do I have to fool myself into hoping that my music will be played after I die?

I want my music to be played now

how and when I please.

You are right... but at the moment this is a wonderful time.

Yes... a wonderful time.

I have this house, my income and Tristan to be staged.

Poor Tristan, he has been waiting for six years.

We will soon have the theater I always wanted. The King gave me a free hand.

I have already written to Semper. He will soon be here with the plans.

He will be very busy. In the meantime

we have to start selecting the singers for Tristan. It is not easy.

Do you think Mayer will be available? If he is not, who else...

I hope he will not be available. I believe we need a different singer.

Lately Mayer...

I am sorry, but are you sure they will not object to me?

There are some good orchestra directors here in Munich.

Someone brought in from elsewhere may not please everyone.

It pleases me, and that is what matters. As I said, the King gave me a free hand.

He hugged me, he almost kneeled in front of me the first time I met him.

I was deeply moved.

A great boy. I cannot wait to introduce you to him.

If he ever comes back.

He said he was going away for a couple of days. It has been at least 20.

At the palace, they take advantage of his absence and do not pay me.

They are waiting for the King's authorization. It is ridiculous.

The King is an angel. A young God descended from the Olympus

but he is surrounded by stupid, suspicious, miserable idiots.

I will not find a friend in any of them.

You have to come and stay here with me.

So, Madame von Bülow, is everything settled?

Follow me. I will show you the rest of the house.

- You do not mind, do you? - Not at all.

The kids may be a nuisance.

Nonsense. The house is big.

They will not disturb anyone.

There will be another baby soon.

"Can you smell the sweet scent of night?

"It caresses our souls with so much sweetness

"It comes to use mysteriously through the air, and I have no more questions

"when I let myself be taken by a spell

"The same spell drew me to you, my dear

"the day my eyes met yours for the first time

"I knew then that I would not have any more questions unanswered

"My eyes saw you, my heart

"My heart understood."

I like poetry, I understand it.

I do not miss music.

But the beauty of Wagner's poetry is in the music.

And the beauty of his music is in the poetry.

One cannot exist without the other

and from this powerful fusion a new language is born

that everyone can understand anywhere in the world.

A language that can even spread ideas.

I cannot explain it, but I know

that the best thing you can do for your people

is to enrich their minds.

Mon cousin, what do you want to make of your Bavaria?

A nation of musicians?

Are you making fun of me?

It is a very important matter, at least for me.

To Wagner I owe my strength, my willingness to do something in life

to be useful to somebody in the world

even if he has the modest role of an intermediary.

I owe all of this to him. As I owe to you...

What do you owe me?

I owe you the happiness of the past few days.

I spent them looking forward to seeing you again.

Pure and utter bliss.

Promise me to always help me and not to abandon me.

- Will you promise me? - Yes.

You are like a child, Ludwig. And a crazy one too.

We all are in our family, including me. I am sure about this.

Promise me you will never leave me. Only this.

That I will always be able to see you if I need to, even if only for a moment.

A moment all for myself.

Right. But how can this happen? You are in Munich, I am in Vienna.

I will go everywhere you are.

You never visit me... but I know you often go to Possenhofen, am I right?

From now on, I will... I know when you have to come here.

For Wagner's Tristan

the opera that we have decided to stage.

He has been waiting for six years.

I promised him that he would stage it.

You must come and see it. It is wonderful.

You will understand everything I have been trying to tell you.

You will also understand me and what happened to me in the past few days.

Then you will share a moment with me and you will just tell me

"I understand now."

Do you know where I will wait for you?

Remember five years ago, the Island of Roses?

The flag high on the yard means "I am waiting for you."

Remember?

Come. You have to promise me.

Tristan

is like an ocean of harmonious sounds

where you can abandon yourself as if you were in someone's arms.

Please stay.

- Where have you been? - When did you all arrive?

Late. Countess Ferenczy said you were in bed and did not want to be disturbed.

She said it was your wish.

And you listen to Countess Ferenczy? She is stupid.

Yes, I did not feel too well.

- So to speak. - Where have you been? Tell me.

I could not sleep so I went out for a ride.

- On your own? - Of course.

Well, with the groom. Is that right?

Let's go, help me to undress.

You look very well.

- You are very pretty. - Really?

And in the next few days here, you will have to be even prettier than usual.

Why?

- Somebody is eagerly waiting for you. - For me?

He delayed his departure for 15 days, can you imagine?

- Just to see you. - Who are you talking about?

Who is he?

Who would you like him to be?

I do not know.

He is handsome, he is a king. He will be your husband.

- Who is he? - Ludwig.

Yes, our cousin.

Her Majesty is very sorry, but she is not feeling well.

She has decided not to ride today.

Her Majesty has told me to ask Your Majesty

to come for lunch in her apartments this evening.

Say thank you to Her Majesty for me.

I will be delighted to accept her invitation.

My horse!

- Ma tante. - Your Majesty.

Marie... Kärl-Teodor.

- Your Majesty. - Sophie.

Matilde.

Nenè.

Maximilian.

I did not know you were coming here to Bad Ischl with the whole family.

Your Majesty knows how nostalgic my Elisabeth is.

All of a sudden she wants to see brothers and sisters

and we have to run straight away to keep her company.

- You look very well. - Thank you.

The air is very pure here at Bad Ischl.

I have not heard from your Mother for a long time. How is she?

Mon cousin!

One of my messengers had to go to Schlossberg

and I knew that in the green houses had blossomed...

What a wonderful smell!

Sophie, smell these.

Oh, yes. Wonderful.

- I have not seen you for a while. - It is a pleasure being back.

- Are you well? - Very well, thank you.

Such a gathering of important guests

had not been seen in Bad Ischl for many years.

Elisabeth told me that there is the Tsarina

and the Hereditary Prince of Prussia.

The Emperor will be here in a couple of days.

- N'est-ce pas, Elisabeth? - Yes.

Yes, Franz told me that he will be here as soon as possible.

An authentic family reunion, correct?

Your Majesty did the right thing by talking to Elisabeth

so that the presence of Sophie here at Bad Ischl

will be interpreted as a normal holiday.

- Sophie. - Yes.

Sophie likes Wagner's music as much as you, mon cousin.

I am sure you will have many things to talk about together.

I am afraid I will have to postpone the pleasure.

I am here only as a send-off.

I have to be in Munich tomorrow morning. I am leaving tonight.

And now, ma tante, if you would excuse me...

Thank you for the happiness of the past few days.

I will be waiting for you, even if you have not promised me.

You have to come to Tristan.

When you'll hear Wagner's music,

you'll understand everything I've tried to tell you.

You'll understand so many things about me. You have to come.

The staging of Richard Wagner's Tristan

in June 1865

cost a fortune to the State.

To that unwise spending, we should add the King's personal expenses

to receive in an adequate way Empress Elisabeth

who instead decided not to attend.

By doing so, she gave everybody to understand that she did not approve of it.

I do not like feeling expected.

I do not like letting people down.

And I do not like giving hope in vain.

I did not hold any hope. I was sure you would not have come

in the same way you did not come for Tristan.

It was an utter success.

You should have seen it. People kept applauding.

A great success. Right from the start.

And when Wagner appeared on stage and said...

I would love to be able to repeat his same words.

He said that, like Tristan and Isolde drink...

How much did it cost in total?

- What? - How much did this show cost?

Wagner, his orchestra conductor, his family,

Wagner's house, the one for the conductor and his family...

What sort of questions are these? It is not relevant. It was a success.

A success! Successes are easily forgotten.

It is the best way to stir up the most acrimonious criticism.

Here, the critics started even before the successes.

You... You are worrying

about people's malevolent critics?

Yes. If they are right.

What are your aspirations?

To be remembered thanks to Richard Wagner?

Like my mother-in-law and her silly painters.

If your Richard Wagner is so great, surely he does not need your help.

Your pathetic friendship with him only gives you the illusion

that you have created something important.

In the same way as you need me to give you the illusion of love.

You are not able to be alone.

You would like me to be your impossible love

in order to justify your conscience.

You need the kind of help that I cannot give you.

Get married. Marry Sophie.

But I have never loved any other woman... apart from you.

Love also means duty. And your duty is to create your own reality.

Forget the dreams of glory.

Monarchs like us do not make history.

We are just a facade. We are easily forgotten.

Unless they give us a bit of fame by killing us.

This is the sort of music that Germans like, not mine.

It has got to the point that every single day the Munich papers attack me.

Stop reading them. I will give orders to have them hidden from you.

You should give orders to not let me go out. People in the street insult me.

I would want to keep you like a prisoner.

Knowing that you work for yourself and for me.

Sometimes I wonder how long I will have the strength to do it.

I need to trust you, at least.

Maybe it is the fear of life that sometimes assails me.

Life as it was before I met you, Your Majesty.

So, as Your Majesty can see

stages have been abolished. The place resembles an amphitheater.

The audience is therefore an ideal community without class distinctions.

The orchestra, compared to the stage, is much lower

but this is clearer in another table.

The lighting system is completely new.

The spectator must concentrate on the scene.

Therefore we need total darkness.

- How many seats? - 1,500... Maybe 1,700.

Semper will give you the details.

I think we should offer at least 2,000 seats.

Regarding the costs, I have a feeling they will request a much smaller theater.

- Otherwise they will cancel the project. - Why do you think so?

I am sure this is how it will end up.

Just think of the stir caused by Tristan.

So you can imagine the reaction to the construction of a new theater.

Everybody will feel robbed. They will ask for my arrest.

How can I work for a similar audience?

Great minds have always recognized the importance of music in a country.

But here, all they can talk about is waste of money.

They count the pennies. This much for the tenor, the soprano, the orchestra...

There are other reasons for it.

Nonsense! I beg your pardon.

The success of Tristan had filled me with joy and hope.

Now these stupid attacks are ruining everything, and involve Your Majesty too

You are uncertain, sad, with no enthusiasm.

Me? No, it is not because of this. How could you think so?

Without you, today I would be in despair.

You are my hope, my consolation.

In the building of this new theater

I am putting all the enthusiasm I am capable of. All my love.

Sorry for disturbing you, but it was getting dark

and our Fanny did not dare coming in to put on the light. She asked my help.

Not at all. You have to forgive us.

- Can I have the honor of serving tea? - Yes, thank you.

How are you feeling today, Maestro? Were you able to have a rest?

- Milk, Your Majesty? - Yes, thank you.

- Were you indisposed? - It was nothing serious.

Why have I not been informed?

Thank you. We could have postponed until tomorrow.

- I am fine. - It is not true.

Anybody on edge like me would have ups and downs.

I have been suffering from headaches for years.

I am sorry, but it was not just the headaches.

His Majesty cannot ignore your health conditions.

I need to know what this is about, please.

- There is nothing to know. - No.

Well, I can speak as a person

who has been in contact with the Maestro for a short time, but

my impressions are the same as my husband's.

He is a great friend and assistant of the Maestro.

Yes, the Maestro has always suffered of nervous depression

but in the past few days he has worsened.

Apart from headaches, he is suffering from insomnia.

We are worried. But I doubt medicines will help in this case.

The source of so much anxiety should be eliminated.

I told the Maestro it is not worth getting upset over certain articles.

Forgive me, Sire, but it is not those critics that worry the Maestro.

And not even the worries about the theater project.

He is worried about the future.

The fact of not being able to settle certain distressful matters

that have been going on for years.

He ran into debt in the past and... Forgive me, dear Maestro.

His Majesty asked for my opinion and I have to be honest.

But that belongs to the past. I am here now.

Of course, Your Majesty!

But I must admit that the Maestro is right.

When you are just a guest, you cannot feel that secure.

The Maestro is not a guest. He earns wages like all the other assistants.

He is the most precious of my assistants.

Of course. Why are we even talking about this?

Because you often talk about it, and constantly think about it.

- Why not talk honestly to His Majesty? - Madame von Bülow!

One of these days I will have to talk privately to Madame von Bülow.

She will become my ally. She will tell me how to make our friend serene.

No, please. I know my way.

Let me have the pleasure to feel at home.

I will accompany His Majesty.

I can tell you now what the Maestro needs.

The request he is planning to put in writing for Your Majesty

this is what my husband told me

regards a certain sum he would need

to be able to extinguish his old debts and look to the future with more serenity.

Otherwise, he would rather leave Munich.

He would need 200,000 gulden.

Did you say 200,000?

200,000 gulden.

Part of the sum could be paid in cash and the rest in shares

with monthly repayments.

I will have to ask for a loan from the State Treasury.

I will also need the approval of Pfistermeister and von Worden.

I will let the Maestro know.

They promise the moon, they swear friendship and love, and then...

Are these the great patrons of our days?

This is just a brainless youth.

The last eccentric of a family of eccentrics.

He will give you everything you want, I am sure.

My love... Cosima.

My love.

What kind of country is this?

A nation of policemen?

Pfistermeister uses the police to invite my guests.

They are then followed and spied on by the police.

And the letters that my guests write and receive, are brought to me as trophies.

This is outrageous!

These are just standard precautions, Sire.

Fully justified in this case, as Wagner is a foreigner

and he is on the records as a revolutionary.

If Richard Wagner was not an artist

he would be a saint.

His genius has a moral and purifying quality. His art redeems us.

He is an antidote to the evil and corruption of our society!

Richard Wagner is a man who will be remembered eternally.

Because art is the absolute truth.

What an artist leaves behind are not his weaknesses

for as shocking as they can be, but his work.

Your Majesty is right, of course

but if I may say so

it can be dangerous to allow the guardians of the law to make exceptions.

Their point of view is different from ours.

For them, Richard Wagner

does nothing but waste the taxpayers' money.

Madame von Bülow is not his muse, but an adulteress.

And her husband is a despicable opportunist who pretends not to know

the relationship between his own wife and Wagner

because he does not want to lose his job.

These are just slanders!

No, Sire. It is the truth.

As these letters clearly show.

Your Majesty has to understand something.

Maybe Wagner's detractors are insensitive to art

but they are not liars.

Maestro Wagner and Mr and Mrs von Bülow are in the waiting room.

They wish to see you about a very urgent matter.

Let them in.

His Majesty the King is waiting for you.

Thank you.

Your Majesty told me to ignore what the papers were writing about me.

Criticism, verbal attacks, insinuations

insults of the press in general. I followed Your Majesty's advice.

I have suffered everything in silence.

And I would keep quiet, if I was the only one involved.

But it is not just about me anymore.

Your Majesty, in the Fushbutter there was an article claiming

that my wife is Richard Wagner's mistress.

I have challenged the editor to a duel.

This is very serious, Your Majesty.

Yes, you are right. It is very serious.

Because we are all accomplices.

Mr von Bülow, who knows that his wife is Wagner's mistress

but feigns ignorance.

Otherwise he would have to throw her out

and give up his prestigious post as the Maestro's conductor.

And me, I know everything

because my friend Wagner does not hide anything from me.

Me - his friend, his patron,

especially in such a delicate situation, which affects his private

and public life.

Me - friend, admirer and confidant,

obviously I am the accomplice of my favorite.

It is only an evil slander. Unacceptable, Your Majesty.

Only Your Majesty can help us resolve it.

If only Your Majesty could write a letter to Mr von Bülow

a simple letter expressing your admiration and friendship

once the letter is published in the papers.

Lohengrin is ready to defend Elsa

but it is easier to fight in a duel than to write a letter.

If I may, Your Majesty, I have written a draft.

"Dear Mr von Bülow,

"having had the chance to fully appreciate

"the noble and generous qualities of your esteemed spouse..."

Fine.

I understand.

I will copy it and it will be delivered tomorrow.

Your Majesty does not wish to read the rest?

No, it is not necessary.

I am sure it is absolutely fine.

Your Majesty, I am very grateful.

I have only done my duty.

Wagner knows how much I value true friendship.

His Majesty the King has entrusted me with the task

of ordering you to leave Munich as soon as possible.

Here is His Majesty's message.

"Dear friend,

"as painful as this is

"I find myself forced to ask you to follow Minister Lutz's orders.

"My love for you will be forever unaltered.

"And I beg you to remain friends with me,

"I did not have any other options.

"Until death, yours faithfully, Ludwig."

Do not say anything.

I can confirm that His Majesty, the King of Bavaria

has been suffering from a form of mental instability

since the year 1866

on the eve of our unfortunate participation to the war of that year.

The position taken by our monarch against the government

which supported our alliance with Austria

provoked a dangerous feeling of general discontent.

Gentlemen, you have to wait a bit longer.

Your Majesty is required at the castle.

Come in.

Your Majesty, His Majesty Prince Otto.

- Did they get offended? - I doubt it. They are waiting for me.

They think you are not here.

Let them wait.

- Come. - We are going back to Munich tonight.

And tomorrow... I have to go back to the front.

Do you find it hard?

Yes, I do. I hate the smell, the dirt

the cries of soldiers when they are operated on without chloroform

because they have run out of supplies.

- What do they want from me this time? - They want you back in Munich.

You are the King.

We are losing the war.

Look!

The four quarters of the moon

like when we used to go fishing at night-time as children.

Yes. And you would get upset if I had more luck than you.

Because I was the King.

I did not want this war.

I want everybody to know!

Yes.

What is the matter?

I do not know. My eyes are stinging.

Maybe it is because I am not able to sleep anymore.

And when I do sleep, I dream of not being able to sleep.

I dream of not being able to close my eyes, and so I stay like this, always.

Whether I am awake or asleep, I keep my eyes open. That is why they sting.

You are not well.

Stay here in Berg with me.

I cannot and you know that.

I must go back to the front.

It would be dishonorable towards our allies too.

They are our cousins, after all.

Our enemies in Prussia are our cousins too!

We keep everything in the family - wars, weddings, babies...

We are incestuous and fratricidal.

Without knowing why.

You are the King. If you did not want the war, you should have prevented it.

That is what I did. And I do my best to make my opinions clear.

As far as I am concerned, this war does not exist.

Tell the generals that the King does not know that there is a war.

- Who is there? Who are you? - It is me, Your Majesty, Volk!

Why are you not at the castle?

Who gave you permission to go out?

I thought Your Majesty did not need me anymore.

A waiter must not leave the apartment while on duty.

Did you not know that?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Nevertheless, you came here.

You left your job to have a swim!

I could not sleep.

Are you not afraid of being caught by patrolling squads?

Usually, I hear them coming and I hide in the canes.

- Can you swim? - A little, Your Majesty.

I never go where I cannot touch the bottom, especially when I am alone.

- Are you cold? - Yes, a bit.

Take this.

Help me.

Help me, I beg you.

Help me.

It is extremely important and urgent!

Captain Dürckheim asks to be seen by Your Majesty.

Come in!

We have been defeated, Your Majesty.

We have surrendered.

- Are there many casualties? - No.

Your Majesty, the enemies' forces were stronger.

Our troops were demoralized.

We do not have too many casualties

but to keep fighting would have led to a pointless massacre.

I am happy it is over, and it did not last long.

Seven weeks, Your Majesty.

But they seemed like an eternity for those who were fighting.

Any news about my brother Otto?

He went back to Munich. He was very demoralized.

You are very fond of my brother, am I right Dürckheim?

Yes, Your Majesty. I am very fond of him.

One day, Otto will be your king.

Very soon.

Because I...

His Majesty Prince Otto is deeply unhappy.

He is so young

but it is as if he has got to the end of his life without having lived it.

His ambitions are dipped in bitterness.

They have turned into sorrow and fear. He is extremely lonely.

He does not sleep for more than two hours a night.

He is unable to rest. He was desperately looking for happiness

in something unreachable

and security

in what falls outside the rules.

What's wrong with that?

The world around us is unbearable and miserable.

Men are only after material security, nothing else.

They are ready to lose their lives in order to achieve that.

I want to be free! Free to look for happiness in the unreachable.

But unlike my brother, I try to act upon my thoughts.

That is why I abandoned this silly war that I was not able to prevent.

I am not a coward! I hate lies.

- I want to live in truth, always. - Forgive me, Sire.

Allow a common man to express his opinion.

Your Majesty said that he wants to live in truth.

But I think what you meant is that you want to live as a free man

following your instincts and your tastes

without hypocrisy or lies. Am I right?

In my opinion, the truth

doesn't have anything to do with this search for the unreachable.

When freedom is a privilege of the few

it does not have anything to do with real freedom

the same freedom that belongs to every man

and that each of us has the right to hold on to.

We live in a world where there are no innocents

where nobody has the right to judge anybody.

I am speaking as a friend. The generosity

that Your Majesty showed me when we were both younger

gives me the courage to speak my mind

as men do with each other.

I am a soldier who was left alone on the battlefield

at a time of danger and bitterness.

But I do not feel neither contempt nor rancor for the king who abandoned me.

Instead, I feel great pity.

My king thinks he has made a brave decision

but he is mistaken if he thinks he can find happiness

outside the rules and the duties of men.

Those who love life cannot afford to search for the unreachable

but have to be extremely careful.

This is true even for a monarch.

Even for a monarch, because the great power that a monarch has

is limited by the boundaries of the society of which he is part.

Who could ever be able to follow him outside those boundaries?

Certainly not the weak and humble whose only worry is to find security

both material and moral.

The same security Your Majesty was talking about with such contempt.

The only ones following him will be those

who see freedom as a search for pleasure

beyond any moral boundary. No

you surely do not want this.

Being followed only by despicable servants

exploiters, traders of illusions...

No, I do not believe it. Your Majesty cannot like such a breed

who would take advantage of his generosity and would try to deceive him.

Why would a young person, who has a whole life ahead of him

not be tempted to find a different reason to live?

Even if it is difficult because it is the one of common people

who accept mediocrity.

It takes a lot of courage to accept mediocrity

for somebody who is pursuing sublime ideals beyond this world. I know it.

But it is the only way to be saved from a terrible loneliness.

- I need to talk to my mother. - Her Majesty is resting.

Wake her up! What are you waiting for?

- Yes. - Hurry!

Her Majesty the Queen is waiting for Your Majesty.

I apologize for waking you up at this time

but I needed to tell you something immediately.

I have decided to get married.

I knew this would be good news for you.

Are you not going to ask me who the chosen one is?

I was waiting for Your Majesty to tell me.

I fully trust Your Majesty's judgment.

I want you to go immediately

to Possenhofen

to ask Duchess Ludovica for the hand of Princess Sophie.

I am sure Sophie will be the perfect spouse for you.

I have already asked Father Hoffman to come here. See him straight away.

I would like you to inform him of my decision

and to go with him to Possenhofen, because Sophie is Catholic.

Ludwig.

- Your Majesty. - My dressing gown, hurry!

Hurry!

As soon as Father Hoffman arrives, take him to my dressing room.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Reverend Father Hoffman is already here.

Your Majesty.

- What happened? - Did you see my son?

Yes, just now as he was leaving.

- He did not say a word. He seemed... - Happy.

He is full of joy.

Ludwig wants to get married.

He wanted me to let you know.

He also wants you to come with me to ask for the hand of the young girl.

This is only fair, because the princess is Catholic.

And the request made by a Protestant mother may not be enough.

- He wants to get married? - Princess Sophie, Elisabeth's sister.

Is it not wonderful news?

Father, I feel like I am waking up from a nightmare.

A nightmare you have not helped me much with, to tell you the truth.

- Please, take a seat. - Thank you.

It must be a big relief.

I hope

that His Majesty has found a stable balance.

Many young men struggle to find balance within themselves...

- An inner harmony. - He has found it.

What matters is that he found it and is getting married.

I am surprised that His Majesty has never mentioned to me his intentions.

I was saying that I hope

that he has weighed carefully the decision he has made.

Because this choice

involves not only him

but also his spouse who, with the blessing of the Lord...

Enough, Father Hoffman!

What matters is that they get married

and that the wedding is celebrated as soon as possible.

This is exactly what we all hoped for.

- Am I right? - Of course. It is a relief for all of us.

And for the country.

We will probably need the papal dispensation

given the close relationship between the two.

Of course. I am sure there will not be any problems,

- Their parents are cousins too. - Exactly.

That is the reason why people believe that in the Wittelsbach

and in the Hohenzollers family, there have been many cases of anomalies.

But as far as I know, young Sophie enjoys good health.

And His Majesty the King has never given us any reasons to worry.

We should mention certain timidities and indispositions of His Majesty

so that Sophie can help him and be understanding.

Like her sisters, Sophie will quickly learn

that a woman in her position does not only have rights and privileges

but also duties. Many duties.

My dear.

- Sophie, are you happy? - Yes, indeed.

This is one of the best days of my life, Ludwig.

My dear Dürckheim, these family reunions are very tiring.

My best wishes.

I am very, very happy. Really.

Thank you, Otto.

Well done, Otto. You are always so nice.

- Nenè, Matilde, ma tante... - Elisabeth!

I am very happy too.

Congratulations, mon beau-frère.

My dear Otto, you are so nice.

Everybody is happy. And the station looked beautiful, with all those flags.

Father.

You did not think I was going to show up? I did not either.

Everything is always so complicated.

So, ma tante, I have heard you will do refurbishment work at the residence.

The old residence will be renovated. Who will be in charge of the work?

Sophie, let your voice be heard. Sophie is not like me.

I can only say if I like something or not after it has been done.

I must have a warm drink, if you will excuse me.

Thank you. I can do it myself.

I was dying for a cup of tea.

- We will not be living at the residence. - Will you not?

Only for a short while. As little as possible. Until the new house is ready.

What are these?

Something I have been thinking about for a while.

I would like to build a castle.

Remember the Graswang Valley?

Above Oberammergau. There is also another place that I like just as much.

Maybe even more.

Herrenchiemsee. I am still not sure.

We could go there tomorrow, by horse.

Remember Bad Ischl?

It will not be tiring, quite the opposite.

So you can give me your advice.

Sadly, I will not be here tomorrow. I will be on my way to Zurich.

I stopped by just to see Sophie and give you both Franz's best wishes.

And mine, of course.

With the wedding approaching, His Majesty gave the go ahead

to the building works for his damned castles.

I was in charge of making the King experience certain things

that he was thought to be totally new to.

It was all so complicated.

They told me so many things about you. They recommended you.

Who did?

Your Majesty sent his aide-de-camp to the theater to invite me for dinner

and I suddenly found myself at the center of a big State affair.

Closed carriage, curtains down.

I was taken to a place full of offices.

And then?

Do you want to know? Are you curious?

Thank you.

There were some gentlemen.

I think one of them was sent by the Archbishop.

A very indiscreet person.

And another one was sent

by Her Majesty the Queen Mother.

Oh, my God, Your Majesty!

Are things always so complicated when a king wants to make love?

For us actors it is much simpler. A gaze is all we need.

A sign like this.

I have been told this too - that you are very shy.

Then they asked me a lot of questions.

Even about my health.

- Really? - Really outrageous.

Scandalous. And in the end

they appealed to my discretion.

Although it doesn't apply to them, obviously.

They want to know how things went.

Are you going to tell them?

With Your Majesty's permission, I would like to deceive them all.

They are too indiscreet.

Curious. We

could make love

and say that we have not done it.

Or we could not do it, and say we have done it.

Yes, we must satisfy their curiosity.

Let's tell them something that will shock them.

For example, that Your Majesty spanked me.

- Will they believe you? - Your Majesty, I am a great actress.

The truth is... that you will surely go back to them.

And you will tell them what did not happen between us in every detail.

- Is that why they pay you? - No.

- Is that why you do it? - No.

- No, Your Majesty. No! - Yes, they are paying you.

I am sure of it.

Why would you not accept?

If you do not do it today, somebody else will do it tomorrow.

Do you think I do not know what happens around me?

I know it. I am surrounded by people who check everything I do.

Not to protect me, but to ruin me.

I have not understood yet how they will do it, but I know they will.

This is their aim.

I can only watch

fascinated, while they move quietly and cautiously.

It is as if I was watching them

while they build the scaffold on which they will hang me.

No. No, Your Majesty. This is not true.

- This is not true at all. - Go away.

And get them to pay you.

Ask for a good sum, more than you deserve. Go, madame.

- Prostitute! - Your Majesty!

Why? What have I done?

Not like this, please. Please.

Your Majesty, rescue me! Help me!

Rescue Madame von Buliowski, and send her home, now.

Your Majesty! Help me!

The jewels that the queens of Bavaria have been wearing for 700 years.

But I will give you a better present. It is a secret, you cannot tell anybody.

I will introduce you to Richard Wagner.

Our engagement is more tiring than a military campaign.

It is a martyrdom

that Sophie bears without a single complaint.

She is the perfect fiancee.

And she loves your music.

Do you know what she is afraid of right now?

That I ask her to sing something for you.

She is afraid of your judgment, not only as a singer but also as a fiancée.

She is convinced that by asking you to meet her, I sought your approval.

- When are you coming back? - Soon, Sire, soon

And I will not be hiding. I will come back with my wife and a new opera.

You will save me from much sorrow, much loneliness.

Sophie is delightful

very pretty and sweet.

For the first time I saw love for Your Majesty in somebody's eyes.

I have decided to postpone the wedding by a month or two.

I wish it had already happened. I can already hear the crowd screaming

the banquets, the ceremonies, both here and at the church.

It is like a nightmare, it keeps me awake at night.

My uncles, my aunts, my cousins from all over Europe,

the kisses, the hand-shakes, the wishes,

the hugs.

You can open your heart to me, Your Majesty.

My affection for you is the same as it was the day you called me to Munich.

I have not forgotten you saved me from poverty, welcomed me into your arms.

I took up your invitation right away because I realized you needed me.

Forget what happened in the past.

You can betray friends, even their trust

and still love them. Be magnanimous, try to forgive.

I know that nobody else can advise you like I can

because my words are born of a very honest and deep feeling.

What is bothering you, my friend?

I understand many things, but I cannot speak if you do not ask me to.

My name is Richard Hornig.

I worked for the King for 10 years.

I became part of his staff by chance, when His Majesty

in one of his moments of rage, threw out a squire called Volk.

And so I replaced him.

During my years at the service of the King, I never betrayed his trust.

And I do not have any intention of doing it today.

Apart from this - nothing in his behavior

was different from what everybody considered

suitable behavior for a king.

Wait here.

- Take this! Are you able to put it up? - Yes, Your Majesty.

- Good. Very good. - I learnt it when I was in the Army.

- I have not seen you before. - I started few days ago, Your Majesty.

- And what did you do before? - I worked in a farm.

I looked after horses.

- Light the fire. - Right away, Your Majesty.

Take off your gloves!

- What are you waiting for? - Have you got any orders for me, Sire?

If you want, you can sleep here tonight.

Yes, Your Majesty.

What "Elsa" are you talking about? Who is this "Elsa"?

I am Elsa. Ludwig does not even like my name.

He never called me Sophie, only Elsa.

From the very start

Like the heroine of the Lohengrin.

What lover does not call his beloved a different name?

Lover...

Ludwig has always been known to be extravagant.

Yes, I know. But I am in love with him.

I cannot bear him leaving me on my own during a ball organized especially for us.

He never asks me to accompany him, to go out with him.

He comes to see me very rarely and without warning.

I have to spend my days indoors so that I do not miss his visits.

And when he does come to see me, he only says a few words.

Or sometimes he comes at night, walks by the gate

and leaves some flowers on the ground for me.

Without a note or anything.

As if he was putting them on a grave.

As a matter of fact, I feel dead. Dead and buried.

And I felt dead even when he insisted I met Wagner.

Everybody gives me pitiful looks, really pitiful.

It is also your fault, Sophie.

Why do you stay indoors

waiting for him to grace you with his visit?

You have to lead the same life you had before. Go to the theater

travel and try to enjoy yourself!

Show him that you are an independent woman, full of interests apart from him

This will attract him to you. He will look for you!

Ludwig will never look for me. He does not want me, he is not interested in me!

And you know that very well. Why did you not tell me he was in love with you?

Why are you saying such things? It is not true.

Of course it is. Many have told me.

However, I had already understood it. Although it was too late.

And if you want to know, they told me that even you...

Who? Who told you? Do not ever dare say anything like that again!

Sophie... please look at me.

Do not believe all the nonsense people tell you.

It is not me you have to be scared of. Neither me

nor any other woman.

Ludwig... The only danger for Ludwig could be...

It happens to many young men, did you not know it?

To all of them, when they are so young and sensitive.

In the majority of cases, they get over it, if we help them.

I am very fond of Ludwig.

Maybe because we are so similar, not only physically.

He does have many flaws but also many qualities.

He is very vulnerable.

You can save him, Sophie. You have to do it, but you have to be strong.

You have to be there for him. Do not let him postpone your wedding any longer.

If he does not talk to you, you talk to him.

If he neglects you, give him the impression that you neglected him first.

I will tell our father to write to Ludwig to set the date immediately.

He must not postpone anymore.

I do not want to marry Sophie anymore.

- It is too late. - No, it is not!

It is not the first time an engagement is broken.

A king cannot... must not give scandal.

He cannot expose himself to awful

and justified criticism. They will show you no mercy!

And this is the reason why I should not take pity on Sophie?

Let the Lord take pity on her. Leave her in His hands.

I am deceiving her.

You knew that from the beginning.

She does not want to marry me for ambition.

- I did not realize that. - If Sophie is in love with you

you have to be happy.

She loves me today, but tomorrow she will hate me. And I will hate her.

How can you be so full of arrogance?

How can you expect to know what the Lord has in store for you?

Today you are only asked to get married

and to have children.

Listen to me, Ludwig.

When the devil sends us his temptations

we have to be able to turn them against him.

We have to be able to respond as God would like us to.

In the darkness of a room, your sinful imagination

will make you realize

that the warmth of one body is the same as that of any other.

Father, you are teaching me something new.

For your country, for your people, you have to be one of them.

Obviously more powerful and privileged

blessed by divine providence

but still one of them.

If you want to be different, they will never forgive you. Never.

Wagner was thrown out of Munich

because he was a genius..

In that sense, he was an outsider.

He was different from the others.

Ludwig, you are the favorite of the Lord because

more than any other man, you are exposed to sin.

And because of this

more than any other man, you can offer God the proof of your love.

As you told me, I know

that up until now you have always had the strength

to reject any temptation

to avoid committing sins.

Yes.

I want you to repeat to me that this is still true.

Yes.

I am asking you once again

under the sacred bond of the confession.

I daresay that calling off the engagement with Princess Sophie

marked the beginning of our misfortunes.

From that inauspicious day, our King lost his interest in State affairs.

Despite everything that was going on in the world, His Majesty

seemed interested only in building all of those castles

in which nobody would ever live.

To make matters worse, Prince Otto was getting more and more ill

and the Queen Mother sought comfort in the Catholic religion.

Our heart is filled with joy, Your Majesty.

How painful for a mother - he did not want to be caressed.

On behalf of our Provincial Father too, I would like to express my contentment

for Your Majesty's decision to attend this ceremony

compensating partly for the King's absence

and the deepest sorrow that is caused by

seeing him living more and more in seclusion.

Lately, I have been visiting him frequently

to ask him about his health.

Very often His Majesty refused to see me.

Remember His Majesty in your prayers.

I never forget our beloved King in my prayers.

But I must admit that it is a cause of great embarrassment

and profound dismay having to explain to his Catholic subjects

his position.

Sadly, we are on the verge of a war that at best

will end up with the triumph in Europe of the Prussian forces.

And we would like to be able to say that the course of these earthly events

which, as the Lord knows

are totally alien to us

will encourage us to try and strengthen more and more

the sacred bonds with the mother church

and the Holy Pope.

But our King is not helping us on this

If God, in his eternal mercy

accepted me as His humble servant,

I am sure that He will help us.

I have faith.

You are waiting in vain, Father. His Majesty cannot receive you.

I am here on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen Mother. Prince Otto is ill.

His Majesty is ill too. Bad teeth.

Listen to me, Father. Do not waste your time waiting.

But I could...

Count Holnstein has been waiting next door this morning.

He came from Versailles, where His Majesty sent him on a crucial mission.

- He has been waiting for six hours. - I see.

Tell him I came here.

- And the reason why. - Of course, Father.

I cannot wait any longer. I must see His Majesty the King.

I will take sole responsibility for this.

When did you get here?

At eight o'clock this morning, and I have been waiting out there since.

As Your Majesty knows very well.

I am ill.

Chloroform is the only thing that helps me get some sleep.

- Does the smell bother you? - Not at all.

Shall I ask someone to open the window?

I am so cold.

Take a seat.

Thank you. But I must go tonight.

- Really? Where to? - To Versailles.

I have spoken to Chancellor Bismark

and I must give him an immediate answer.

What is this? Who wrote this?

- I do not understand. - It is the letter

that you should write immediately to the King of Prussia.

I should not say this, but Bismark dictated the words to me himself.

And I should write this letter?

You should copy it and sign it, and I will have it delivered as soon as possible.

What?

What?

I should ask William to do me a favor

and accept my kingdom as a gift?

Is this what you want?

No, you would be asking the future Emperor of the great, new Germany

to include Bavaria in the Confederation of the Allied States.

This is not an alliance.

This means putting the country in their hands.

Becoming slaves, even worse than slaves.

It would mean putting ourselves in the most humiliating position imaginable.

No! No! I can do anything but I will never do this!

Slavery? Humiliation?

I do not understand.

You become a slave after being defeated or made a prisoner.

Defeat is a humiliation,

the unavoidable fate of Bavaria, if it will not join this Alliance...

It would take a mere sneeze of the great, new Germany

to wipe out the kingdom of Bavaria.

Let's put the cards on the table.

Bismark's advice is very wise.

This letter should have been written sooner.

Your uncle, King William, would have surely appreciated it much more.

But we can still make it.

Before he is proclaimed Emperor much to our regret.

Psychologically there is no better time.

Moreover,

there would be guaranteed financial returns.

Yes, Bismark made me understand that Your Majesty can count on it.

No. Or at least not now.

I do not want to. I could not do this.

I will not do it. No, I will not do it!

I cannot! I do not want to. I must not.

It is almost five o'clock. If I can leave Munich at nine o'clock...

We all know that there is no other solution.

The only harm we can spare ourselves is to discuss it.

If it is true that there is no other solution

if my government thinks that there is no other solution

let my government take this step.

If I told Your Majesty

what the government is thinking of doing at this moment,

Your Majesty would not hesitate to write that letter.

But I do not want to use certain methods.

I am only saying this. Your Majesty needs a personal alliance.

An alliance with people of the same blood, the same rank.

An alliance that would bring many advantages,

some of which will be immediate.

- Leave him! - Your Majesty, I do not know if...

Otto.

Do you recognize me? It is me, Ludwig.

Merry Christmas, my dear.

Happy birthday! Happy everything!

This is my gift for the both of you, for you and him.

Nobody has ever given me a better present.

Here. Take this.

Come here. Come.

Best wishes, Madame Wagner, from all of us, from the whole world.

Thank you.

Play it again, please.

For the purpose of this difficult inquiry

and for a better understanding of the matters we have to solve,

I suggest that my colleagues visit all the castles of His Majesty

of which only Linderhof was occasionally occupied by him.

I would also like to remind you that Wagner, who left Bavaria long ago

was still a burden on our finances.

When his new theater in Bayreuth was opened in August 1876

with his famous Tetralogy, it was only because of the financial support that

with his renowned greediness, Wagner was able to obtain from our naive King.

He did not have any money left but he did not reduce his spending.

Spending continued at an alarming rate.

For example, he would give huge amounts of money to a waiter

because he had a pretty face and looked smart.

Or to an actor whose voice he liked.

"A glooming peace this morning with it brings

"The sun for sorrow will not show his head.

"Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things.

"Some shall be pardon'd, and some punished.

"For never was a story of more woe

"than this of Juliet and her Romeo."

Bravo, Mr Kainz. You were wonderful.

An excellent interpretation.

Bravo, I am very pleased.

- Divine! - You were wonderful, Mr Kainz.

- Thank you. - Heartfelt congratulations.

This interpretation, Mr Kainz, was your best so far, believe me.

I was deeply moved.

I am very grateful for this.

Congratulations, an unforgettable Romeo.

- Thank you. - A real success, congratulations.

- Very good, my dear. - Thank you.

A triumph, Joseph.

Mr Kainz, on behalf of His Majesty the King.

- Good evening. - This letter is for you, from His Majesty.

And this too.

- Look! - Well deserved.

His Majesty the King told me to go and see young actor Kainz

to bring him a gift and invite him to spend three days at Linderhof castle.

Good evening.

Excuse me, Mr Kainz.

Let me give you some candid advice.

You see, the King was expecting to meet Romeo

not Mr Joseph Kainz.

His Majesty invited Romeo to Linderhof.

If you can be Romeo, or Didier,

any one of his heroes,

then your success will be guaranteed.

"Kneel down

"in front of each and every one of these crosses

"and shed tears of fire

"in repentance for the sins you have committed.

"And if you will be allowed to overcome happily

"the sorrows and the dangers of the path ahead of you.

"If the mountain does not send avalanches on you

"from the height of its peaks

"you will reach a dewy bridge of splashes as light as dust.

"If the bridge does not bend

"under the weight of your sins

"the moment you leave it behind you

"you will see a dark door

"opening up on the rocks in front of you.

"The daylight

"has never penetrated this far.

"Come on, cross

"the darkness of that cave

"and you will be taken to the glowing beauty

"of a valley.

"But you have to cross it very quickly therefore you cannot stop

"where peace reigns."

Oh, Rudolph,

royal ancestor of mine.

This is how

your descendant will enter the territories

of your empire.

"And so you will reach

"the highest peaks of the Gottardo,

"where the eternal lakes are glowing.

"They fill themselves

"with the water fallen from the sky.

"There, you will part with the German soil.

"With fast course, another river will bring you to Italy,

"your promised land."

I will take you to those very places

where your characters lived and suffered.

We will go together to Switzerland following the steps of William Tell.

Then...

Then to Italy.

Yes, especially to Italy.

No, later on.

We will talk about this later.

Recite once again Didier's monologue for me.

Didier, once more.

"Ah, be quiet. I could have..."

"Ah, be quiet. I could have been

"unlucky and be born a woman."

"But

"if the person who spoke to me was an honest man,

"a fool who can still appreciate honor.

"If, by chance, I had met a heart still full of illusions

"rather than saying to the honest man.

"This is what I am.

"Rather than welcoming him full of joy,

"rather than being the one to warn him that my pure and innocent eyes

"were lying the whole time.

"Rather than being so nasty, maleficent and ungrateful,

"I would have dug my grave with my own nails."

Continue.

"You would laugh heartily

"if you could see yourself

"in the same way as my heart, this strange mirror, saw you.

"You have done the right thing by breaking it.

"My lady, you stayed there,

"innocent, pure, chaste.

"Oh, woman,

"what has this man

"of kind and profound heart done to you?

"Bending at your knees,

"he loved you

"for a very long time."

You will become my best friend.

I will make you the pillar of my theater.

You will interpret the best plays in the world

of all times.

Your fellow actors

will be jealous and envious of you.

Expect all of this, but do not be afraid.

You will be under the protection of the King.

The King is protecting you from sorrows and worries.

But you...

You have to be loyal to him.

I only expect your loyalty.

Wagner was hated by everybody too.

I have imposed him on the whole world.

But Wagner

betrayed my trust.

I was that man with a heart, still full of illusions.

Since then, I have been looking for a real friend.

And now... now I have found him.

We will leave as soon as possible. We will be traveling a great deal.

- And if they will not allow me... - Who could not allow you something?

You are the King, the Master.

Being a king is not always easy.

So... why do you not abdicate?

Do not dare talk to me like that again!

Never again, never!

I am very tired, Your Majesty.

I would not mind going to sleep for a couple of hours.

Sleep? The sleigh is ready, come!

I will show you my real kingdom, my mountains under the moonlight.

A world for ourselves, pure

and uncontaminated. Think about your soul, Didier.

Do not think about your body.

"The peaks quiver,

"the weak bridge trembles,

"but the hunter walks a difficult path with a steady heart.

"With bold steps, he crosses on the treacherous glacier.

"Over there, where spring never comes

"and branches never dare grow."

You were snoring. This was not the poem I was expecting to hear from you.

"The wind starts blowing from the south..." Come on, recite!

No, I cannot.

I cannot do it.

I cannot bear to be somebody who recites on command.

I am an artist!

Please, just this.

- I cannot. - It is an order!

I cannot!

I cannot help it, I cannot bring myself to do it.

We have been traveling for a week.

I am exhausted, I feel like I have not slept at all.

My mind is confused, Your Majesty.

If you are tired, you should get some rest.

Mr Kainz states that the letters written to him by His Majesty the King

and sent to him almost daily

in the short time they were friends

have all been taken away from him.

Mr Kainz lied. Mr Kainz sold the King's letters for a high price

in the same way that he sold many of the precious gifts from him.

He sold all the letters in Switzerland

to an officer employed by me.

I have the letters with me.

In my opinion, these letters are the proof

the hardest and clearest proof, that His Majesty

is mentally incapable.

I put up, as much as I could

as a loyal servant of the kingdom and the State

with a tyrant who knows no limits

in order to indulge in all his fancies.

Reluctantly, I helped Wagner in Bayreut,

I tolerated the building of Linderhof castle

and then Neuschwanstein castle.

But after the building of Herrenchiemsee castle,

I decided to present the Cabinet of Ministers with a detailed report

on the current situation

I also sent a copy to Empress Elisabeth

and then I resigned.

Why is that black veil on the piano?

I had heard about it. The King ordered it to be put up for Wagner's death.

It was long time ago.

Osterholzer!

I cannot see her.

I cannot receive her. Go!

Say that I am ill.

It is plausible.

I am ill, very ill.

I do not want anybody's pity.

Go! Hornig, tell her that I am sorry

and that I will visit her as soon as I feel better.

Obviously, Neuschwanstein is all hers.

She can stay for as long as she wishes.

I cannot receive her. Go.

- Tell His Majesty I am here. - His Majesty is ill, he cannot see you.

His Majesty says that the castle is at Your Majesty's disposal

for as long as you wish.

We are going back to Possenhofen.

And then he started crying.

He threw us out of the room.

But we could hear him anyway.

He was crying and calling, "Elisabeth! Elisabeth!"

Karl!

It is your turn now.

Who did you put in charge of carrying out this inquiry?

Count von Holnstein, Highness.

The Count has always been very close to His Majesty.

His advice is therefore very helpful for us.

I have always distrusted favorites.

And ex-favorites have to be regarded with even more suspicion.

What part does Colonel Dürckheim play in all of this?

He has been close to Ludwig since he was young.

Highness, we thought it would be better

to keep this situation as confidential as possible

due to the decisions we may have to make

should our King be declared incapable of ruling.

As Your Majesty may know,

in spite of the King's eccentricity

and the recent excessive spending on his empty castles,

the people still love Ludwig very much.

Moreover, it is in the interests of some people to have a king

who does not rule.

Are you saying that Colonel Dürckheim is one of these people too?

No, not at all. We are very fond of Colonel Dürckheim.

I feel the same as you.

So, I am sure you gentlemen will not mind

if I want to hear his opinion on the matter.

I also think it is more fair if we hear him while you are present.

Call Colonel Dürckheim.

The Cabinet of Ministers, represented by Count Törring here

is offering me the regency of Bavaria in case it becomes necessary

to make our King Ludwig II abdicate.

From what I hear, it is clear that he is of unsound mind.

Please, Colonel, take a seat.

Obviously, I would only accept the regency if there was a medical report

confirming this necessity.

I very much appreciate your impartiality, Colonel.

I know that on many occasions

you showed loyalty to the King.

So, I would like to know your opinion.

I... I am the first one to admit that over the past few years His Majesty

has shown less and less interest in State affairs.

Loneliness gave him shelter

but are we sure

that his lack of interest is not just a façade?

And that maybe his eccentricity is only a way to show to himself

and to the whole world

the privileges he has the right to allow himself?

I apologize, Your Highness, but this is my opinion.

The King's private life is as eccentric

as his own Government wanted it to be.

Before putting an end to the excessive spending for his castles

this was regularly approved by the Treasury.

Somebody must have wanted to keep the King occupied in his follies.

Somebody who has been very close to the King in the past few years

and who has had a bad influence on him.

He was appointed by the Government.

Forgive me, Your Highness, but Colonel Dürckheim seems to be accusing

our Government of plotting against the King.

You are saying this, not me.

It is my duty to answer honestly to His Majesty's question.

I realize the seriousness of what I said

but the proof is in the fact that some measures have been considered

before making any attempts to help the poor soul, if I may say so.

Our King is going through a crisis...

How many years has this crisis been going on for, Colonel Dürckheim?

Let us look at the facts.

Obviously, the Government tried to be very understanding

because it wanted to prevent a scandal before it was too late.

If there will be one.

We are carrying out a detailed inquiry.

Colonel Dürckheim will be interrogated

and he will repeat what he said to us in private.

And maybe there will be others who, like him

will think that the Government's responsibilities

are much heavier than the King's.

In this case, dear Pfistermeister

our only option will be to resign and go to see a doctor.

Because if it will be proved that the King is mentally capable, we will look crazy!

I am professor Bernard von Gudden,

head psychiatrist at the Munich Psychiatric Institute.

Following the assessment

on His Majesty the King's mental health,

this commission has reached the following verdict.

His Majesty

is in the advanced stage of a mental disorder

known to psychiatrists as paranoia.

Such disorder does not allow freedom of action

therefore the King is incapable

of ruling his kingdom.

Such incapability will continue for the rest of his life.

Thank you.

What? What? Osterholzer.

Gentlemen, listen, please!

If that groom manages to speak to the King,

our mission will definitely be jeopardized.

We cannot wait until tomorrow, we have to act straight away.

Hesselschwerdt!

How far is this place, Hohenschwangau, from Neuschwanstein?

It only takes 15 minutes by coach.

Even in this rain.

Gentlemen, we have to leave immediately.

Remember, every minute is precious.

They have come to arrest the King.

They are coming from Munich. A conspiracy.

I ran away. They do not know it.

- "They" who? - There are three coaches, Sire.

I have seen them. They were at Hohenschwangau.

They are about to come up here.

Your Majesty will not be able to give any more orders.

Count von Holnstein said so.

Is von Holnstein here at Neuschwanstein?

I do not know, Your Majesty.

Von Holnstein.

- Did you say von Holnstein? - Yes, Your Majesty.

- Who else is with him? - I recognized minister Crailsheim,

Professor Gudden,

Hesselschwerdt.

What do they think they are doing?

I want you to arrest all of them! All of them!

Mayr! Mayr!

I want them to be flogged until they bleed!

I want their eyes burnt out! I want them to be shot!

I want to do it with my own hands!

Hurry!

Call the guards, Mayr!

Have them arrested! Hurry, go!

Stop right there! Another step and I will shoot you!

We have to take the King to Berg castle.

What do you want?

His Majesty has been deposed by the Cabinet.

His Royal Highness Prince Luitpold has taken regency.

Put your weapons down and open the gates!

The King ordered us to shoot anyone who tries to get any closer.

We brought a document with us, stating that the King is mentally ill.

I have the right to read it to him.

They cannot disobey the orders of the Cabinet!

- Count Holnstein, I do not understand - They are only complicating things!

We must convince him.

They arrested all of them.

Very good.

Very good.

You, Mayr, find me the key to the tower immediately.

Listen, if necessary, we will go up there.

From up there, I will be able to defend myself better.

Or jump off the top, if they try to arrest me.

Anything but what they have in mind,

keeping me alive by killing me, as they did with my brother.

No, I will not let them do this!

Hurry, I want the key!

The key... We do not have it, Sire.

Find it! You must find it!

Immediately! Hurry!

I must see His Majesty, immediately.

Colonel Dürckheim.

Dürckheim, I had the conspirators arrested.

I approve of Your Majesty's line of action

but the Cabinet has decided.

We need to urge the people to oppose this decision.

We will take Your Majesty to Munich immediately. We can count on the Army.

Your Majesty will talk to the soldiers and the stationed officials.

Your Majesty, there is no time to waste.

Trust me. We must go to Munich.

Munich... Munich.

Not even eight elephants

would be able to drag me to the city I hate.

Sire.

It is the only hope to save the situation.

Unless Your Majesty prefers to go into exile.

We could try and go through Tyrol and cross the border

but it would be very difficult for you to come back.

The Army, the people

are waiting to rush to the aid of Your Majesty, this is what I think

but you have to ask them for help.

You have to win them over. Only Your Majesty's presence...

If Your Majesty would prefer to go into exile...

I am ready to help you.

I do not want to travel. Moreover,

what would I be doing in Tyrol?

Make sure they leave me alone.

I have always done whatever I could to be of help to Your Majesty.

I failed in the past.

I am failing now.

You could be of much help to me. Very useful.

I want some poison.

Get me some poison.

You just need to go to the pharmacy in Kempten.

Go, straight away.

Your Majesty,

I am here to save you,

not to help you die.

Orders of the King.

By order of the King, these gentlemen must stay under close guard.

They must not leave this room under any circumstances.

They cannot receive either food nor drink. Nothing.

This is what we get.

We do not have much hope.

Munich is far.

We should not have trusted him.

Sergeant! I order you to deliver this message

to the Prime Minister: "Very urgent. Our lives are in danger.

"The King has ordered us to be put to death.

"Send help as soon as possible."

Colonel Dürckheim,

I would like to know if you informed the Supreme Command of the abuse...

Colonel Dürckheim, I hope you appreciate your responsibility in this.

There will be irreparable consequences for you.

By not looking at our warrant

you let Baron Crailsheim, the Foreign Minister, Count Törring...

The King has ordered your release.

Do what you have to do.

If I may suggest something.

Act with caution. His Majesty

needs protection from himself.

Do you believe in the immortality of the soul, Weber?

Yes, of course, Your Majesty. I believe in it.

So do I.

I believe in the immortality of the soul

and in God's justice.

I have read many things about materialism.

It can never satisfy a man.

He does not want to be put on the same level as beasts.

I will not need this anymore.

Here.

Drowning is a fine death.

There is no mutilation of the body.

But jumping off the top...

Take these too.

I will write a letter.

Should this watch be returned to the Royal Treasury

in the event of my death,

they will have to pay you

25,000 gulden as compensation.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty! I have the key.

The key to the tower.

Mayr, Mayr!

And there I was thinking you were no good.

Your Majesty, I have never had to fulfill

a sadder obligation than this.

Four psychiatrists expressed their opinion on Your Majesty's health.

As a result of this,

His Highness Prince Luitpold took regency.

I was ordered to take Your Majesty to Berg castle

this very night.

My loyal Sauer.

Please.

It is raining again.

It will never stop.

Never.

Your Majesty should eat something now.

- What do you think I should eat? - Anything.

You can eat anything you want, Your Majesty.

No knives. A peculiar way of setting up the table.

Only one dessert fork.

Am I supposed to start with the dessert?

I am not hungry. I want to sleep.

Of course, Your Majesty.

Wake me up at midnight.

I will take a walk

then I will eat.

Your Majesty is expected to follow a more regular schedule from now on.

Of course.

Sleep at night, eat at set times

and with regard to going out- maybe in the future.

Soon I will ask them myself to grant you permission, Your Majesty.

I would like to rest now, and be left alone.

If possible.

Of course, Your Majesty.

He has been treating everybody with royal kindness.

Always very disciplined.

He did not show any signs of restlessness.

He gave adequate answers to questions.

To be honest, I do not think we should deny His Majesty

permission to take walks in the park.

It would be cruel, and for no reason.

It is the only concession he has been asking for.

It is not raining now

but it could start again any minute.

Moreover, it should not be difficult for a doctor

to advise him against it.

Actually, His Majesty has a strong constitution.

Obviously, I will make sure I advise him

to wait until the weather improves, but if he insists

I am ready to accompany him myself

as long as he is not denied once again.

Yes, I will accompany him myself.

You have been won over, Dr Gudden. But be careful.

There is nothing more beautiful and fascinating than the night.

They say the cult of the night, of the moon

is a maternal cult.

The cult of the sun, of daytime

is a masculine myth, therefore paternal.

However, the mystery,

the greatness of night,

for me lie in

the infinite, sublime kingdom of the heroes.

Which is also the kingdom

of reason.

Poor Dr Gudden!

You are forced to study me from dawn to dusk, and from dusk to dawn.

But I am an enigma.

And I want to be an enigma

forever.

For the outside world

and for myself.

Excellent.

- Delicious. - You feel tempted to have some more.

It is half past seven.

Dr Gudden said he would not stay out for more than one hour.

- What time did they leave? - I saw them. It was before six.

Send somebody to look for them. They must have taken the path by the lake.

Get some torches, quick!

Who went with them?

They were alone.

Dr Gudden did not want nurses to accompany them.

- His Majesty seemed very calm today. - How crazy! So irresponsible!

Dr Müller, do I have to teach you that crazy people can be clever too?

Go, quick! As soon as you find them, send somebody to inform us. Quick!

So?

Count von Holnstein.

Telegraph Munich immediately!

Say that the King has disappeared. I am going to look for them too.

If I find them

I will shoot once in the air to let you know.

Our King has committed suicide.

In order to do so, His Majesty had to kill Dr Gudden.

Take the bodies to the castle, immediately!

The last original composition for piano by Richard Wagner

unpublished until today, is presented for the first time in this film.

Special thanks to those who, with their efforts and enthusiasm

made it possible to restore the original version

of Luchino Visconti's Ludwig.