‘Making Marie Antoinette’ Review: The Late Eleanor Coppola’s Doc on Her Daughter’s Film is Full of Gorgeous Details and Maternal Affection
Variety has reviewed "Making Marie Antoinette," a documentary directed by the late Eleanor Coppola, mother of Sofia Coppola, chronicling the making of Sofia's 2006 film "Marie Antoinette." Built from nearly 80 hours of behind-the-scenes footage Eleanor shot during the original production, the film arrives 20 years after its subject and offers both a detailed record of an elaborate shoot and an intimate portrait of a mother-daughter relationship, making it a fitting final creative statement following Eleanor's death in 2024.
The project began in earnest during the early Covid lockdown and was completed by Sofia Coppola after her mother's passing, with editing credited to Sofia and Aaron Matthews. Diane Lane narrates Eleanor's diary entries throughout, offering reflections on generational differences between mother and daughter, including Eleanor's own choice to prioritise family over her own creative ambitions before later making her narrative directing debut, "Paris Can Wait," at age 80. The documentary also lingers on the lavish craft behind "Marie Antoinette," such as costume designer Milena Canonero's 72 gowns for Kirsten Dunst, alongside details of wig maintenance, set design and elaborate food styling.
In short
- Eleanor Coppola's documentary on daughter Sofia's "Marie Antoinette" reviewed by Variety
- Built from 80 hours of footage shot during the 2006 production
- Completed by Sofia after Eleanor's death in 2024, narrated by Diane Lane
Explained simply
Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette is a 2006 film about the young queen of France, played by Kirsten Dunst. Its costumes, sets and food recreate the world of the French court, and costume designer Milena Canonero made 72 gowns for Dunst’s role.
The documentary is built from footage Sofia’s mother, Eleanor Coppola, filmed during the production. Eleanor was also a filmmaker, though she put family life ahead of some of her own creative ambitions before making her first narrative feature, Paris Can Wait, at the age of 80.
Eleanor began shaping the documentary during the Covid lockdowns and died in 2024. Sofia completed it with editor Aaron Matthews, while Diane Lane narrates entries from Eleanor’s diary. The film offers a record of how the earlier production was made and a view of the relationship between mother and daughter.
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