Sofia Coppola on Embracing an ‘Embarrassing’ Moment in New ‘Marie Antoinette’ Doc and Showing Strength on Sets Surrounded by Men
Sofia Coppola has shaped nearly 100 hours of footage her late mother Eleanor filmed on the set of “Marie Antoinette” into a new documentary. “Making Marie Antoinette” revisits the making of the 2006 film and highlights the craft behind its depiction of 18th-century France, while offering a tribute to Eleanor and her filmmaking.
Coppola says revisiting the footage helped her appreciate her mother’s calm presence during a demanding shoot at Versailles, when she was a young director working with a large, male-dominated crew. Eleanor wanted the film to show the work of costume designer Milena Canonero and other craftspeople; her diary entries are read by Diane Lane. The documentary reaches cinemas on 23 October through Mubi, marking 20 years since the original film.
In short
- Sofia Coppola made a documentary from her mother’s set footage.
- Eleanor Coppola filmed nearly 100 hours during “Marie Antoinette”.
- The film honours the craft and support behind the 2006 production.
Explained simply
Marie Antoinette was a queen of France in the 18th century, before the French Revolution ended the monarchy. Sofia Coppola’s 2006 film about her used Versailles, the former royal palace, as a filming location and placed strong emphasis on costumes and visual detail.
Coppola is an American film director, and Eleanor Coppola, her mother, was also a filmmaker. The new documentary draws on footage Eleanor recorded while her daughter was making the film, including the work of costume designer Milena Canonero and other crew members.