Last week, Versailles saw one of the biggest parties it’s seen since the French Revolution. Last week, Sofia Coppola’s “Marie Antoinette” celebrated its 20 year anniversary. The movie, which was initially not well received, has become a cult classic, celebrated for its award winning costumes and its soundtrack.
 The film, which was released in September 2006, was highly anticipated after Coppola’s Oscar win for screenwriting for “Lost in Translation”. The movie was granted 19 days to film at Versailles, and stars Kirsten Dunst and Jason Schwartzman. However, “Marie Antoinette” fell short of its high expectations, actually receiving boos at the Cannes Film Festival.Â
The anniversary kicked off with a special exhibit in the Petit Trianon, Marie Antionette’s favorite spot in Versailles. The exhibit consists of costumes, wigs, and set pieces from the movie, as well as insights to the creation/making of it. The exhibit kicked off September 22, and will end January 24th 2027. Fans who could not make it to France to take part in the celebration could celebrate at home by purchasing “Making Marie Antoinette”, which shows never before seen pictures of the production, taken by Coppola’s mother, Eleanor. A documentary with the same name is also going to be released in October. The film is also restored in 4K and is returning to movie theaters around the world for a limited time.Â
Later that week, Coppola, Dunst, and Schwartzman all returned to Versailles for the opening of the exhibit. The party was sponsored by Cartier, took place in the Orangiere, and saw a performance from New Order.
This anniversary could not have come at a better time, for both the movie and the palace. People have a more sympathetic look at Marie Antoinette, and Olivia Rodirigo’s “Drop Dead” mentioning and being filmed in Versailles reintroduced the palace and its history to younger audiences. It’s no secret that Marie Antoinette was used as a scapegoat for the French Monarchy, and now with help from Coppola and the exhibit, we can continue to gain an appreciation and understanding for this past Queen.