Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette exhibition (finally) opens its doors at the Palace of Versailles Head to the Petit Trianon

Upon its release, Marie Antoinette allowed the controversial historical figure to become a true pop icon, transcending the 18th century in which she lived and died. Awarded the Oscar for Best Costume Design in 2007, the film established a singular signature with its pastel palette. From design to fashion and photography, the Coppola-style "Marie Antoinette look" continues to influence trends today. The film's impact owes as much to its visual universe as to its anachronistic soundtrack, driven by tracks from Versailles-born band Air, The Strokes, and New Order. It also owes a great deal to the 35mm film photos taken on set by Andrew Durham - true archives of a shoot that took place just before the dawn of smartphones and digital ubiquity. A near-prophetic timing, as the first iPhone was launched the following year.

Inside the intimacy of the Petit Trianon

Set in the heart of the Petit Trianon - the queen’s original refuge, paired with the famous Queen's Hamlet - the exhibition offers an unprecedented dive into the creative process of The Virgin Suicides director. The tour brings together original costumes designed by Milena Canonero, leather goods, set props, storyboards, annotated scripts, and reconstructed set elements. Simultaneously, video projections allow visitors to revisit key scenes from the film inside the very rooms where they were shot, creating a striking dialogue between the historical site and its cinematic reinterpretation.

"During production, Versailles was far more than a shooting location: it became an integral part of the film's language and mood, a character in its own right. Returning twenty years later to explore the creative process behind the film, along with the extraordinary work of the artisans who contributed to it in such an exceptional setting, is a deeply moving experience." - Sofia Coppola

Haute Couture, Jewelry, and Historical Reinterpretation

The queen once mockingly dubbed "Madame Déficit" for her astronomical spending and passion for fine attire finds redemption through our modern lens. While costume designer Milena Canonero drew inspiration from master painters to recreate a faithful yet streamlined wardrobe, the film did not hesitate to twist traditional codes: the shoes were crafted by Manolo Blahnik, while Fred Leighton loaned nearly $4 million worth of glittering fine jewelry to enhance Kirsten Dunst's portrayal of the Queen.Twenty years later, it is fitting for haute horlogerie and high jewelry house Cartier to sponsor this unmissable event, sealing the meeting between French history and one of contemporary cinema's most striking artistic creations.