The Queen of Versailles

The formation of this documentary game, dictated by life itself, was influenced by chance. The talkative married couple decided to show the world the power of their wealth and status by building the most expensive family home in the United States. This decision came shortly before the collapse of the economy and the subsequent downfall of the previously unshakable empire of a real estate magnate. It was supposed to be a documentary about a triumphant success, about the creation of a modern-day Versailles as a symbol of power for modern billionaires. However, the director took advantage of the unique opportunity provided by the change in the social position of the observed family and captured the inevitable economic decline of multimillionaire Siegel and his family in a live broadcast. The Queen of Versailles can also be perceived as a peculiar reality show about how a millionaire family suddenly has to deal with situations they were not prepared for. After all, the remarkable openness of the lady of the house and her spouse probably stems from a desire to be visible and penetrate television screens. For me, however, The Queen of Versailles is primarily a time-lapse documentary about the inability to accept reality and adapt to a changing world. It is characteristic that the entrepreneur eventually sells the company that brings him a certain profit in order to maintain an unproductive and oversized building as a symbol of social status. The reality of the Siegel family surpasses many times over what Woody Allen expressed in his film Blue Jasmine. Overall impression: 75%. (19.04.2015)