Two decades after its release, Sofia Coppola’s film "Marie Antoinette" is being celebrated with an exhibition at the Petit Trianon, the small chateau within the Versailles estate where parts of the movie were filmed. The exhibit, curated by Hélène Delalex and Laurent Salomé, runs through January 24 and features original costumes by Milena Canonero alongside props, sketches, and photographs from the 2006 production.
Coppola’s interpretation of the teenage queen initially sparked controversy for its anachronistic elements, including a contemporary soundtrack and modern fashion touches like Manolo Blahnik shoes. At the time, some audiences criticized these choices as jarring, but over the years the film has gained a following and is now regarded by many as a classic, noted for its fresh take on period storytelling.
The exhibition recreates scenes from the film using mannequins dressed in Canonero’s Oscar-winning designs, displayed within the actual rooms where Marie Antoinette once resided. Coppola described the experience of revisiting Versailles for the show as “surreal,” emphasizing the care taken to restore lighting and gather production materials that had been stored away for years. The art director Anne Seibel and Canonero played key roles in assembling accessories and costumes for the display.
During a recent interview, Coppola reflected on the challenges of directing the film as a young filmmaker. She called the process “stressful and overwhelming,” citing the scale of production, large crews, and numerous extras involved. Nonetheless, she maintained a clear vision to create a period drama that felt immediate and lively rather than a static historical tableau. The film’s vibrant color palette, especially the bright turquoise fabric discovered in Marie Antoinette’s private rooms, broke from the muted earth tones typical of earlier period movies.
Coppola also highlighted the film’s exploration of ennui and aimlessness through a female perspective, drawing parallels between the queen’s life and contemporary experiences she observed while writing the script in the early 2000s. She acknowledged encountering resistance from some male crew members regarding this focus, noting that the idea of presenting a distinctly female gaze was less understood at the time compared to the more open attitudes she has encountered in recent years.
Alongside the exhibition, Coppola has completed a documentary titled "Making Marie Antoinette," assembled from nearly 100 hours of behind-the-scenes footage shot by her late mother, Eleanor Coppola, who passed away in 2024. Eleanor had intended to create a documentary but never finished it. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the family revisited the footage, prompting Sofia to take on the project as a tribute.
The documentary, which Sony Pictures Classics will release in U.S. theaters beginning October 23, offers an intimate behind-the-scenes look at the film's production and Coppola’s development as a filmmaker. Coppola described editing the footage as emotional and meaningful, providing a unique perspective on her early career and her mother’s creative gaze. She added that the film has found new life among younger audiences, partly through TikTok edits and social media engagement, and has become a shared experience for mothers and daughters alike.
As the anniversary exhibition opens, both the film and the documentary underscore the evolving legacy of Coppola’s "Marie Antoinette," marking its place in contemporary cinema and cultural memory.