Epitafium dla Barbary Radziwiłłówny (An Epitaph for Barbara Radziwiłł) | Janusz Majewski | 1982 | Polish People's Republic
An Epitaph for Barbara Radziwiłł tells the tragic love story of Barbara Radziwiłł, a noblewoman from the powerful Lithuanian Radziwiłł family, and Sigismund II Augustus, the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania.
Set in the 16th century, the movie explores the intense romance between Barbara and Sigismund, which defied political expectations and faced strong opposition from the sejm and royal court, especially from Sigismund’s mother, Queen Bona Sforza. Despite the opposition, they marry in secret, and Barbara becomes queen; but their happiness is short-lived. Throughout the movie Sigismund recalls the events leading to Barbara's death, while being haunted by the ghost of his epileptic first wife Queen Elizabeth, a daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor Ferninand I, who he was pressured to marry for political motives.
