Sofia Coppola’s film Marie Antoinette deterritoralizes the tradition of ‘costume/period drama’.
What is a period film?
I think of those mini-series often on the ABC. Elaborate costumes, classical music.. Sense and Sensibility or Pride and Prejudice style.
Coppola does this is two ways:
-through the anachronistic soundtrack
-through the intimate, immersive and personal aesthetic
She looks at MA in a way historical figures are not usually viewed.
Coppola plays with the idea that it is impossible to recreate a historical period without the imprint of the contemporary society in which it was made. No matter how hard filmmakers may try to accurately reflect a particular historical period, a historical event may never be depicted so precisely. Although advancing technology means the ability for filmmakers to replicate a period is improved, for example costume construction or special effects, technology also makes it more difficult. If Sofia Coppola had chosen to research and use the music from the period for her film, using exactly the same instruments etc… the imprint of modern society and technology would remain in the way music is recorded. This is in relation to Delueze and Guattari’s concept of the sound machine.
A sound machine = a machine that molecularizes and atomizes sound matter and harnesses a cosmic energy.
So, instead of trying to replicate a period precisely and facing contradictions with the technology used, Coppola has put a completely modern take on the period. Although the film does incorporate costumes, colours and set (shooting in Versailles!) accurate to the period, Coppola continues to play with this idea. I guess as with music, costume technologies advance that may in fact prevent costumers from so precisely replicating the clothing that was actually worn. The controversial shot of converse sneakers in the montage sequence continues to play with this idea. While the way the construction of gowns is shown throughout this same sequence also adds to this notion of exposing construction. It is almost as if Coppola is mocking the typical classical period piece that will inevitably fail in replicating the time. Also, all of this adds to the very personal aesthetic, bringing the audience closer to Marie Antoinette as a character.
