The Queen of Versailles

The Queen of Versailles is a unique and fascinating 2012 documentary film, directed by Lauren Greenfield and featuring the opulent lives of billionaires David and Jacqueline Siegel.

The film provides an intimate examination of extravagant wealth, consumerism, and the American Dream, as expressed in the lifestyle of the Siegels. Jacqueline Siegel, a former beauty queen, turned model, and her husband David Siegel, a self-made billionaire and the owner of Westgate Resorts, aim to construct what would be the largest single-family home in the United States, modeled after the Palace of Versailles. The finished palace would contain 30 bedrooms, 10 kitchens, a ballroom, a 30-car garage, two tennis courts, a baseball field, a movie theatre, and an exotic pet zoo.

The Queen of Versailles exposes the audience to a world of opulence few can imagine. From luxurious private jets, limos, monogrammed carpets, hand-painted murals, and a vast collection of artifacts ranging from sports memorabilia to iconic contemporary artworks. It appears the Siegel family has everything they could wish for and more.

However, as the film progresses, viewers behold the vulnerability beneath the surface of all the glitz and glamour. The Siegels are hit by the 2008 financial crisis, significantly affecting David's timeshare empire, Westgate Resorts, and as a result, their personal finances. The vision for their Versailles palace comes into jeopardy, and the family is forced into an uncomfortable confrontation with their new reality. What ensues is an engaging narrative, outlining the Siegels' struggle to maintain their lifestyle and compromise when faced with hard choices.

Jacqueline, as the titular 'Queen,' brings a unique charm to the film, being both part of and apart from the world in which she lives. She is iconic for her flashy attire, lavish spending, and what at times seems like a disconnect from reality—ordering McDonald's through a chauffeured limousine, for instance. But, she also displays an occasionally surprising degree of self-awareness. A woman of intelligence and resilience, she comes across as loving, quirky and down-to-earth despite her privileged existence.

David Siegel, on the other hand, is portrayed as a driven entrepreneur who embodies the rags-to-riches archetype. He's shown as proud, stubborn, and particularly obsessed with completing his Versailles dream, even as it destabilizes his business. As the pressure and tension within his empire rise, viewers can reflect on the obsession with wealth and grandeur that underscores many American narratives.

Introduced into this setup are other significant characters -- the Siegels' domestic staff. Viewers gain a glimpse into their lives as they navigate the challenging shifting dynamics within the Siegel residence. They contribute a significant layer of depth to the documentary as their perspectives relay poignant observations about wealth, privilege, and class disparities.

Filmmaker Lauren Greenfield gives a nuanced and non-judgmental account of the personal and public lives of her subjects. Social commentary about the wealth disparity, decadence, and the American Dream gone awry are inherent in the scale and scope of the Siegel's lifestyle, rather than explicitly stated.

The Queen of Versailles won the U.S. Directing Award at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for various other awards. It uniquely blends societal insights with human drama in a manner rarely seen cinematically. David and Jacqueline Siegel offer compelling character studies of wealth, ambition, vanity, and resilience.

Engaging and eye-opening, The Queen of Versailles takes you behind the gilded gates of the American rich, offering a tour of a way of life that is fantastical, decadent, and fallen. It's a story about wealth and its integration with the American identity that will provoke reflection long after the film concludes.