Directed by:
Monika Czernin, Max Jacobi
Duration
52 min
Year
2022
ZDF / Arte / ORF III / ČT (Česká televize)
A Coproduction with Autentic Studios
TV Premiere ORF: 7.1.2022
TV Premiere ZDF / Arte: 15.4.2022
Joseph II – Emperor and Rebel
Among all the emperors of the Habsburg dynasty, one name stands out above the rest: Joseph II. No ruler before or after him was so determined to fundamentally transform his empire, and none made so many enemies in the process.
His private life is equally intriguing and enigmatic. Joseph II was known for his frequent travels incognito, his two unhappy marriages, his associations with prostitutes, and his tendency toward solitude. These aspects of his personality continue to raise questions about the man behind the crown.
In this co-production by ORF III, ZDF/Arte, Czech Television, and Autentic, directors Max Jacobi and Monika Czernin create a psychological portrait of a ruler who seemed determined to break with convention. What drove his relentless desire for reform? Did his dominant mother, Maria Theresa, push him into the role of radical reformer? Could certain aspects of his behavior suggest traits that today might be associated with Asperger syndrome? And did repeated personal tragedies contribute to the cynicism for which he became known?
The documentary explores these questions while examining Joseph II’s far-reaching reforms, his complex character, and the tensions between his idealism and the realities of governing a vast empire.
The dramatized scenes featured in the film are taken from the recent television production “Maria Theresa.”
Joseph II. – Kaiser und Rebell
Aus der Riege sämtlicher Habsburger Kaiser ragt ein Name wie ein Atoll hervor: Joseph II. Keiner vor oder nach ihm war so besessen davon, sein Reich völlig umzukrempeln, und kein anderer machte sich damit so viele Feinde. Auch privat gibt dieser Kaiser Rätsel auf: seine vielen Incognito-Auftritte, sein zweifaches Ehe-Unglück, die Prostituierten, das häufige Allein-Sein. In dieser neuen Koproduktion von ORFIII mit ZDF-Arte, dem tschechischen Fernsehen und Autentic entwerfen die Regisseure Max Jacobi und Monika-Czernin ein Psychogramm dieses Herrschers, der alle Normen zu sprengen schien. Trieb ihn seine dominante Mutter Maria Theresia in seine extreme Reformer-Rolle? Trug er Züge eines Asperger-Syndroms? Machte ihn das private Unglück zum Zyniker? Die Spielszenen dieser Dokumentation sind der neuen Maria Theresia Verfilmung entnommen.
