The Queen of Versailles (2012)

A documentary that follows a billionaire couple as they begin construction on a mansion inspired by Versailles. During the next two years, their empire, fueled by the real estate bubble and cheap money, falters due to the economic crisis.

Director:

Lauren Greenfield

Stars:

Virginia Nebab, David Siegel, Jaqueline Siegel

7 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Virginia Nebab	...	Herself - Nanny
David Siegel	...	Himself
Jaqueline Siegel	...	Herself (as Jackie Siegel)
Alyse Zwick	...	Miss New York 2009 - Herself

Storyline

In 2008, the Siegel family was top of the heap with the wealthy and politically influential David Siegel running the successful Westgate Resorts time-share business. To enjoy their good life, he and his engineer turned beauty queen trophy wife, Jackie, were building the largest single family private home in America. Suddenly, both the US economy and Westgate were rocked by the devastating sub-prime mortgage collapse. In the new economic reality with the business teetering on ruin, we follow the Siegels as they struggle to scale down their grotesquely ostentatious lifestyle. For this overprivileged family, accepting that situation proved a dispiriting struggle even as their unfinished dream home became a monument of their superficial values.

---

Plot Keywords:

home | economic crisis | beauty queen | mortgage | money | 

---

Genres:

Documentary

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA Netherlands UK Denmark

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 January 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Drottningen av Versailles

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$51,326 (USA) (20 July 2012)

Gross:

$2,401,652 (USA) (16 November 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Evergreen Pictures, BBC Storyville, Impact Partners

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in De wereld draait door: Episode #8.68 (2012)

User Reviews

A completely revolting couple

I knew the back story to "Queen of Versailles" before I saw it, but I wasn't prepared for the extreme revulsion I felt for these characters, particularly David Segal. These folks are poster children for the worst extremes of our materialistic, narcissistic culture. Their values are money, ostentation, self-aggrandizement, acquisition and mindless hedonism. They are venomous leeches on society.

Yet I felt pity for them as well, particularly Jackie. She's something of an enigma. She boasts about getting an engineering degree so she wouldn't have to work as someone's assistant, yet she mostly devotes herself to keeping young-looking and voluptuous (those breasts of hers deserve some sort of special effects award) so she can snag and keep a rich hubby. As her world starts to fall apart around her, she begins to have some insights about what life is really about (not building the world's biggest house), yet still can't abandon her out-of-control shopping sprees or torturous visits to the beauty clinic.

The children, also, seem to be far more aware than their parents of the emptiness and ridiculousness of their lifestyle.

Fortunately, I saw very little of myself in this abhorrent couple, but I did see some similarities to friends and family. Everyone is susceptible to greed and an inflated sense of self. This film shows what happens when that proceeds unchecked and fueled by obscene wealth.