THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES, the 2012 Sundance Film Festival sensation and box office hit that Entertainment Weekly touted as "a succulently entertaining movie," will make its television premiere tonight, April 29 at 9pm ET/PT on Bravo.
The critically lauded documentary about an abundantly wealthy family's attempt to build the largest home in America and their change in fortune as a result of the economic downturn of 2008 was directed by acclaimed documentary photographer/filmmaker, Lauren Greenfield. In addition to winning the Best Director prize at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, the film also captured a Directors Guild of America nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement."The Queen of Versailles" traces the lives of billionaires Jackie and David Siegel who have Made their fortune from their Westgate Resorts time-share business in Florida. The film begins as they embark on the construction of what was to be the largest home in America - a 90,000 square foot dream home complete with 10 kitchens, a bowling alley, a 6,000-square-foot master suite, two tennis courts, a roller rink and more, modeled after France's palace of Versailles as the ultimate dream home for former model Jackie, her husband and their eight children. But the one thing that their blue prints did not plan for was the devastating financial crisis as their extravagant plans are put on hold as a result of the economic collapse. The film captures the strain on the Siegel's lifestyle, family life and marriage as Jackie tries to hold fast to their dreams while David's time-share empire confronts a massive credit crunch. While delivering big laughs and life lessons with Jackie's point of view and hilarious one-liners, this compelling and empathetic True Life story also provides a prism on the seismic aftermath of 2008's Great Recession.
Photo by: Lauren Greenfield
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