Directed by Renowned Photographer Lauren Greenfield

David Siegel, a billionaire who amassed a fortune through the timeshare business, and his wife, Jackie Siegel, dreamed of building the largest house in America. Inspired by the Palace of Versailles and twice the size of the White House, the mansion was projected to cost 10 billion yen. This documentary, "The Queen of Versailles: A Billionaire's Glittering Fall," captures the American Dream and its subsequent downfall, and has now arrived in Japan.

The film is directed by Lauren Greenfield, a world-renowned photographer known for her works exploring themes of wealth and consumerism. Greenfield approached the couple to document their absurd yet monumentally ambitious American Dream, and filming began in 2007. The documentary captures their lives as they transition from a moment of glory with a net worth of 180 billion yen to accumulating 120 billion yen in debt, yet striving to live on. The film rightfully earned the Directing Award in the Documentary Competition at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.

From Peak to Ruin: The Siegels Face 120 Billion Yen in Debt and Construction Halt

David Siegel, founder of the world's largest timeshare resort company in the 1980s, belongs to the top 1% of the wealthy. He married Jackie, more than 30 years his junior, in 2000. Together, they had seven children, including twins, and lived in a sprawling 2,500-square-meter mansion.

The family's lifestyle was one of extreme luxury. Jackie reveled in her life, sporting augmented breasts, high heels, and flamboyant outfits, traveling in a silver Rolls-Royce and by private jet. With a retinue of 19 staff members, including bodyguards, chefs, and five nannies, they were at the zenith of their success.

Their ambition was to build the world's largest private residence. Dubbed "Versailles," the couple's dream palace began construction in 2006. The incident occurred when about 60% of the structure, featuring 15 bedrooms, six swimming pools, an aquarium, and an indoor roller-skating rink, was completed.

The Lehman Shock instantly plunged the couple into massive debt. Yet, Jackie's grasp of the gravity of the situation seemed tenuous; she was seen arriving at a fast-food drive-thru in a chauffeured limousine and nonchalantly asking a rental car agent, "Where is my driver?" The chasm between her and David, who was desperately trying to secure funds, widened daily. Naturally, construction on their Versailles mansion came to a standstill.

This is a modern fable laced with cynical humor. However, one cannot look away from their earnest efforts to live, even in their downfall, however comical.



The Queen of Versailles: A Billionaire's Glittering Fall
Opens Saturday, August 16th, at Shinjuku Musashinokan and other theaters
Director | Lauren Greenfield
Starring | David Siegel, Jackie Siegel
Distribution | Star Sands
2012 / USA, Netherlands, UK, Denmark / 100 min
http://www.queen-cinema.jp
© 2012 Queen of Versailles, LLC. All rights reserved.