Marie Antoinette
Rumor. Scandal. Sex. Fame. Revolution.
Production
Budget
$40 000 000
Revenue
$60 917 189
Director
Scenario
Composer
Dustin O'Halloran
Producer
Actors
Kirsten Dunst
Marie Antoinette
Jason Schwartzman
Louis XVI
Steve Coogan
Ambassador Mercy
Judy Davis
Comtesse de Noailles
Rip Torn
Louis XV
Asia Argento
Comtesse du Barry
Molly Shannon
Aunt Victoire
Shirley Henderson
Aunt Sophie
Short description
Sofia Coppola wrote and directed Marie Antoinette, a historical drama about the Austrian archduchess who was sent to France as a teenager to marry the future Louis XVI. Thrust into the rigid rituals and constant scrutiny of the court at Versailles, she finds her marriage unfulfilled and the expectations placed on her overwhelming. She retreats into fashion, gambling and parties at her private estate, living extravagantly while resentment toward her grows among the French public. As the revolution arrives, the world of Versailles falls apart around her.
Kirsten Dunst plays the title role, with Jason Schwartzman as Louis XVI, Steve Coogan as Ambassador Mercy, Judy Davis as the Comtesse de Noailles, Rip Torn as Louis XV and Asia Argento as the Comtesse du Barry. The film was Coppola's fourth feature, following The Virgin Suicides and Lost in Translation, and she produced it with Ross Katz. It was a co-production between the United States, Canada, France and Japan, made for about 40 million dollars and earning roughly 61 million worldwide.
On IMDb it holds 6.5 out of 10 from around 131,000 votes, and on TMDB 6.7 out of 10 from about three thousand votes. A film critics' rating of 6.3 out of 10 from 217 reviews places it close to the audience scores, suggesting a mixed but not dismissive response. The large gap between the number of IMDb voters and TMDB voters indicates the film reached a broad international audience, with modest returns relative to its budget.
What's left behind the scenes
- In Russia, the film was originally scheduled to be released in January 2007, but after the breakdown of relations in the fall of 2006 between the company «Cascade» and Buena Vista with Sony Pictures Releasing, the release was canceled. The film was released on DVD from March 7, 2007.
- When Marie Antoinette is awaiting Count Axel von Fersen in her bed, she is wearing white silk stockings with a pattern. Such stockings only appeared in the second half of the 19th century. In the 18th century, stockings were still considered a male garment, although women of the upper classes, inspired by the Marquise de Pompadour, had already begun to wear lace stockings.
- When Marie Antoinette and her entourage are seated at a table playing a game of guessing the inscriptions on notes attached to their foreheads, the Countess de Polignac thanks Ramon for the oysters he brought. However, oysters, as a food, were a staple for the poor until the mid-19th century, while the wealthy preferred to eat meat. Later, when the oyster population sharply declined off the coasts of France and they became very rare, only rich people could afford them. As a result of their high price, they became a delicacy.
- Sofia Coppola created the image of Count Axel von Fersen (Jamie Dornan) based on the 1980s pop singer Adam Ant.
- Initially, Sofia Coppola wanted Angelina Jolie to play Madame du Barry, but Jolie preferred "Falsehoods" (2006). Catherine Zeta-Jones was then considered for the role. Ultimately, Asia Argento played du Barry.
- Several statements in the film are verbatim reproductions of various moments in Marie Antoinette's life. Among them are: — Louis XV’s comment about Marie Antoinette’s breasts; — Marie Antoinette’s comment that she has enough jewelry in response to a gift from Madame du Barry; — Marie’s phrase that there are too many people at Versailles during her first conversation with Madame du Barry; — Marie’s comment to her husband, Louis XVI, that Louis allowed her to throw a party but didn’t say how long it could last.
- In 2000, Sofia Coppola read a biography of Marie Antoinette by Evelyn Lever, acquired the rights to adapt the book for the screen, and asked the author to accompany her on tours of Versailles in 2001. However, Coppola later preferred to use Antonia Fraser's book for the film.
- Manolo Blahnik created hundreds of exclusive shoe designs for the film's shooting.
- In the film's credits, Marie Antoinette is listed as “Maria Antoinetta.” However, in real life, her name is spelled with a hyphen.
- In the film, the viewer sees only three of Marie Antoinette’s children, however, she actually had four. The film shows her first daughter and son. Her first son died before the start of the revolution, but in the film we see him and his mother being escorted to the carriage at the end. The third child that the viewer can see in the film appears only in one scene, in a painting depicting a portrait of the royal family. According to the film's events, this is Marie Antoinette's second daughter, however, historically, it should have been her second son, who was alive at the beginning of the revolution.
- When Marie Antoinette sits down to drink tea with her brother Joseph, she brews him a tied tea, which blossoms like a flower as it steeps. However, such tied teas only appeared in the 1980s.
- Sofia Coppola is the daughter of Francis Ford Coppola. Notably, the film featured many actors who are children of well-known figures in the film industry. For example: Jason Schwartzman is the son of actress Talia Shire (sister of Francis Ford Coppola) and producer Jack Schwartzman; Asia Argento is the daughter of Italian director Dario Argento; Mary Nighy is the daughter of British actor Bill Nighy; Catherine Burman is the daughter of British director John Burman; Danny Huston is the son of American director John Huston and the grandson of actor Walter Huston; Iyo Bottoms is the daughter of actor Sam Bottoms and Susan Arnold.
- The filmmakers received official permission from the French government to film in Versailles.
- Sofia Coppola began writing the screenplay for the film even before "Lost in Translation" (2003), however, the draft versions lacked historical accuracy and well-developed characters. Therefore, Sofia began developing another screenplay, which was meant to distract her from "Marie Antoinette." The parallel project – a chamber Japanese story – subsequently materialized as "Lost in Translation" (2003), thanks to which Coppola was able to complete "Marie Antoinette."
- Near the end of the film, there is a scene where princes and princesses by blood bid farewell to the queen, including the Duchess de Polignac and the Princess de Lamballe. In real life, the Duchess de Polignac fled to Switzerland, while the Princess de Lamballe refused to leave the country and remained with the queen. She was subsequently executed. Her head was impaled on a pike and carried past the prison windows where Marie Antoinette was held.
- In a conversation between Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette's brother Joseph, Louis states that his doctor has told him he is healthy. Joseph then uses the example of keys and locks to explain to Louis what to do in the marital bed. However, historical records indicate that Louis suffered from phimosis. The only way to cure this condition was through surgery, which he was reluctant to undergo. For seven years after their marriage, Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI did not consummate their union, until Joseph arrived and persuaded Louis to have the operation. Louis agreed, and a year later, their daughter Marie-Thérèse was born.
- In the film, Marie Antoinette was forbidden from bringing her dog, a Pug, with her when she crossed the French border. In reality, the Pug later returned to its owner after Marie’s wedding.
- The men playing guitars during the scene with the woman singing for Marie are members of the band "Phoenix," whose frontman is dating Sofia Coppola and is the father of her child.
- Sofia Coppola commissioned "Ladurée" to produce the numerous cakes, pastries, and candies featured in the film.
- Tom Meighan, the lead singer of Kasabian, could have played the role of Count Hans Axel von Fersen, but he declined.
- Sofia Coppola deliberately did not read the well-known biography of Marie Antoinette written by Stefan Zweig. Sofia drew inspiration for the screenplay from another well-known biography written by Antonia Fraser.
- The role of Louis XV was offered to Alain Delon.
- According to historical records, Marie Antoinette met the crowd of rebels by appearing on the balcony with her eldest daughter.
- Initially, Judy Davis was supposed to play the role of Maria Theresa.
- In one of the scenes, you can notice "Converse" tennis shoes. According to Sofia Coppola, they were intentionally added to Marie Antoinette's wardrobe to show her as an ordinary teenager, despite the historical period in which the events of the film take place.
- Despite the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles being under renovation, the filmmakers were allowed to shoot the wedding scene of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI there.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
