Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette the movie is a historical biopic, directed and written by Sophia Coppola in 2006. Based on the life of Queen Marie Antoinette and her life journey from a young and beautiful fourteen year old and then leading to the royal life. The situations that occur which lead up to the French Revolution and her demise. The wife of King Louis XVI and their pompous lives were captured in the film.

Starring Kristen Dunst and Jason Schwartzman the movie started with a beautiful interpretation of the royal life. Mainly shot in the Palace of Versailles, the ambience and environment setting presented a great recreation of the 18^th century Royal life. Sophia Coppola was one of the few, who were given unprecedented access to historical locations like the palace, including the Queen’s retreat to use as the films set.

The production designer K.K. Barrett, who has previously worked with the film’s producer Sophia Coppola, is a minimalist in aspects of production designing. The movie shows a fairytale version of the Queen’s life. Coppola’s interpretation of the movie was highly stylised with breathtaking costumes and the lavish lifestyle to humanise the historical figures and their lives.

The film portrays the story of Marie Antoinette, the queen famous for her lavishness and eccentric lifestyle. The film leads on with the interpretation of the lavish lifestyle in a fantasy like manner with the champagne and the cakes, the beautiful flowers and the extravagant wardrobe with silk and tassels. The production designer, KK.Barrett and the cinematographer Lance Acord worked in collaboration with the costume designer to create a unique palette with light and bright colours to create a naturalistic environment setting which further darkens towards the second part of the movie.

Taking a new approach in creating a period film, the director and the production designer have used bright lighting and a bright colour palette in everything from the wardrobe to the furniture, not using the distressed dark colours. With the intricate upholstery, the floral walls and the golden- gilded doors the film has presented a brilliant representation of the Rococo Period.