This scenic documentary retraces the life of the Queen of Prussia, who died at the age of 34 at Castle Hohenzieritz.

Queen Louise of Prussia (1776 – 1810) was celebrated during her lifetime and became a myth after her death. How was it possible that a poorly educated young woman could become an admired queen? Loving, unconventional and above all stunningly beautiful – she loved her husband and her people. Faced with the challenge of the French Revolution, she helped to establish a new, populist kingdom of Prussia. As Napoleon stretched his mighty arms across Europe and Louise’s husband, Frederick William III, had to powerlessly watch the fall of his kingdom, Louise became the epitome of the Prussian will to resist. The documentary paints a sensual and emotional picture of this woman who, in her own lifetime, was named the “Queen of Hearts”. Out of this approach, an emotional interpretation of a historical figure arises. The film attempts to uncover the narrative and mechanics of the myth of Louise. From the perspective of “witnesses” (family members, courtiers, diplomats, educators, friends, scholars, and artists) – evidenced by their written statements, paintings and sculptures – a mosaic image of an extraordinary woman is created. Illustrated with contemporary paintings, sculptures and prints, Louise’s picture is vivid and lifelike. Through documentary footage the authenticity of the portrayal is emphasized: original locations, documents, letters, diaries, files, newspaper reports, objects from museums and monuments become eloquent witnesses of their time. For the German version, the leading German expert on Louise, the Frankfurt historian Prof. Dr. Luise Schorn-Schütte, arranged the individual episodes into a larger historical context. For the international versions, each European partner broadcaster will engage a leading historian of the Napoleonic era in order to make this classification.