Sofia Coppola’s 2006 biopic ‘Marie Antoinette’ portrays a stylish and youthful insight of the tragic life of the Queen of France Marie Antoinette. Though most of the story isn’t historically accurate, Coppola was able to capture the feeling of what it was like in 18th Century France and make the audience feel like they are with them and therefore making Antoinette’s story much more personal and intimate.
I am an avid watcher of Coppola’s films. I love her day-dreamy, slightly disconnected but immaculately stylish directorial style she presents in her work. For me however I have to say that Marie Antoinette is my favourite (closely followed by The Virgin Suicides), mostly due to the intricate and extravagant consumes and set design. And I know I’m not the only one who agrees about that as Milena Canonero won the Academy Award for Best costume design in what was a great year in costume in film as her fellow nominations consisted of The Devil Wears Prada, Dreamgirls, Curse of the Golden Flower and The Queen. Like Coppola, Canonero is a very sort after costume designer working on cult classics such as A Clockwork Orange, The Shining and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Costume dramas are usually seen as quite drab and tired, but Coppola was able to give it a youthful and modern revival, “I wanted the dresses to feel new and lavish, not off a dusty shelf in a museum”. The inspiration of Canonero’s designs bloomed from paintings from the times and Marie Antoinette’s favourite pastries and French delicacies yet telling herself “Don’t be academic. Think of Marie Antoinette as a modern woman.”. Her past work of opera costume design is definitely showcased with in the intricate and historic designs of 18th century France. “It’s not the costume itself I like to do, it’s more about the meaning I give to the masterpiece”, this can defiantly be seen in her extravagant designs fit for a teenaged queen of France as you can sense how the textures, colour and patterns used by Canonero resonate with the youthfulness and lavishness of Marie Antoinette.
For the movie Coppola also reached out to the reigning king of sexy shoes, Manolo Blahnik to recreate the periods decadent shoes worn by the spoilt, yet stylish Queen of France. Taking inspirations from studying the original 18th Century shoes in Paris and even receiving footwear from the V&A that actually belonged to the French queen herself. And then taking inspiration from the films candy-coloured palette he embellished with ribbon, buttons, beads, feathers and silk, describing his work as “Some kind of a cross between academic and a little bit of fantasy”. The scene in which his works of art are showcased really reminds the audience that Antoinette is still a teenager and not a ruler of a country.
Her directorial style of soft low lighting, a feminine pastel colour palette, matched with the breath-taking set of the Place of Versailles creates a dreamy fantasy and evocative quality. It makes me fall in love with all things French and frilly every time.
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