Christmas 1877. Elisabeth, Empress of Austria, turns 40. It is the average life expectancy of a woman in the late 19th century. So Elisabeth is now officially an old woman. As empress, she has exclusively representative duties. She lives locked in the courtly ritual, her duties and the expectations that are placed on her. At forty, she can soon no longer be a symbol of beauty. But what is left to her if she is no longer worshiped, but merely respected?