It’s hard to feel bad for a downtrodden billionaire. Sympathy inevitably comes in the form of an eye roll. Unless you’re in the midst of building the largest single family home in America. And then, like the flippant Marie-Antoinette, it’s possible that heads will roll.
Thank goodness this Queen isn’t that Queen! No, this Queen of Versailles is a character-driven documentary about a billionaire family and their financial challenges in the wake of the economic downfall. It inspires reflection in lieu of revolution.
Directed by Lauren Greenfield (who won the US Directing Award for Documentary Film at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival for this!), the film follows real-life Jackie and David Siegel, wealthy from selling timeshares, and triumphantly constructing their 90,000 sq. ft. palace — ‘Versailles.’
Over the course of two years (in 100 minutes), the audience sees the Siegels’ sprawling 
empire collapse due to the financial crisis, cutting employees, buildings… and their lifestyle.
Marriage on the brink, managing without household staff (at one point Jackie’s thankless job includes wandering around scraping dog poop off the carpet) and entering into depression, the film provides remarkable character depth — making this microcosm of the ‘American-Dream’-gone-wrong that much more personal.
*Queen of Versailles debuts in DC July 27th at Landmark’s E Street Theatre.
Greg’s rating: 4 out of 5
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