The film Jeanne du Barry opened the 76th Cannes Film Festival, marking the return of Johnny Depp to the big screens. Maïwenn, the Franco-Algerian director, started dreaming about Jeanne 17 years ago, idealizing how to portray the story of King Louis XV's favorite mistress, a bold woman who disrupted the court in the 18th century. Jeanne du Barry is played by Maïwenn alongside Johnny Depp as King Louis XV.
The actress-director did extensive research to translate the essence of Jeanne du Barry into her wardrobe, not only her strong personality but her passion for fashion, art, and culture. Digging into Chanel's Haute Couture collections from the 1980s and 1990s, designed by Karl Lagerfeld and inspired by the Age of Enlightenment, she found the answer. In a lovely coincidence, Jeanne and Gabrielle Chanel were born on the same day, August 19th. The exclusive partnership with the brand became evident, and Virginie Viard joined efforts with remarkable costume designer Jürgen Doering to create the most luxurious looks for the film.
Doering and Maïwenn strived to achieve a delicate balance, intertwining historical accuracy with a fresh perspective, not getting too stuck on references, yet being able to embody the era. Chanel's partnership graced us with six costumes specially made for Jeanne du Barry's character, supplied high jewelry pieces, and collaborated with the makeup department using Chanel Parfums-Beauté. The production also featured hats from Maison Michel and high jewelry from Maison Goossens.
The outstanding hair design was envisioned by talented hair stylist John Nollet, who previously collaborated with Maïwenn and brought to life the iconic dreadlocks of Captain Jack Sparrow. John was granted artistic freedom, drawing inspiration from the director's mood boards and immersing himself in the Louvre and other museums. Filmed at Versailles, every aspect of the movie was meticulously orchestrated to create a sumptuous experience.
The delightful film received a seven-minute standing ovation at the Cannes premiere. Netflix will be streaming Jeanne du Barry for French audiences possibly in September this year, however, it is still uncertain if they will ever make it available to worldwide audiences.
