Two crown princes, two empires – and two intertwined yet very different fates. At the end of the 19th century, the Austrian Rudolf of Habsburg and Germany's Wilhelm of Prussia are destined to ascend to the thrones of their respective realms at the heart of Europe. However, both crown princes are reluctant to play the roles they have been born into – maintaining a system and a world that is falling apart around them. Both endure trauma and difficult relationships with their parents that will shape them for the rest of their lives.
Despite the rivalries between the German Empire, established in 1871, and Austria-Hungary, the two empires eventually enter into an alliance.
Wilhelm and Rudolf's friendship is intended as a public symbol of this new relationship. Yet the two young men are very different from each other. Rudolf is a liberal reformer driven by visions of a united Europe, while Wilhelm is intent on strengthening his own empire under more authoritarian rule. Eventually, the friendship turns to rivalry and then to enmity.
This lavish docu-drama explores the personal lives and political approaches of two very different men in very similar positions. In a world in turmoil, they must learn from the past while looking to an uncertain future. High-quality re-enactments based on intensive research provide captivating insights into the personalities of Rudolf and Wilhelm. International experts, historical records and footage of the original locations place the rivalry within the larger context of a continent heading slowly but inexorably towards the upheaval and carnage of World War One. One of the crown princes would meet a tragic and early end. The other would survive to witness a last period of glory for the monarchical system, followed by the end of his empire and the fundamental re-shaping of European society.
Ein Film von Iris Fegerl.
Credits
Cast Reenactment
Rudolf: Markus Freistätter
Wilhelm: Raphael Nicholas
Kaiser Franz-Joseph: Ferry Öllinger
Vicky: Judith Rumpf
Rudolf (14): Christian Schillinger
Rudolf (7): Dominik Baumgartner
Wilhelm (14): Laurenz Haider
Mizzi: Valentina Waldner
Documentary
45 Min. / 52 Min.
Written and directed by: Iris Fegerl
Director acting scenes:Reinhold Bilgeri
Producers: Jakob Pochlatko, Dieter Pochlatko, Wolf Truchsess von Wetzhausen
Line Producer: Heinrich Mayer-Moroni
Production Manager: Franziska Kiefmann
Director of Photography: Philipp Kaiser, Harald Staudach
Sound: Walter Fiklocki, Klaus Tauber, Sebastian Brötzner
Edited by: Michael H. Farquharson, Thomas Ilg
Music: Andreas Radovan
Costume Design: Zizi Bohrer-Lehner
Make Up: Alexandra Knopp, Eliese Barnard, Marlene Weichselbaum
Narrator: Eszter Hollósi
Commissioning Editors: Gregor Stuhlpfarrer (ORF), Peter Allenbacher (ZDF/ARTE)
among others
produced in: 2022
first broadcasted: 20. Dezember 2022
a co-production by EPO-Film, Westend Film & TV, ZDF, ORF
in association with ARTE, ORF Enterprise
with the financial support of FERNSEHFONDS AUSTRIA, Filmfonds Wien, Kultur Niederösterreich
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