Hartlepool Borough Council recently scrapped its “free after 3pm” parking offer at Middleton Grange Shopping Centre and introduced Sunday parking charges as part of its 2026/27 budget.
The changes, which also end free Saturday parking in December, are intended to generate additional income after the council voted to freeze core council tax.
Connor Stallard, a Liberal Democrat campaigner, said: “It’s the last thing our town needs.”
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Mr Stallard added: “I’ve been across town this week talking to local businesses, and the feedback from them is they’re really concerned.”
Although the parking policy was introduced by the previous Labour administration, it was unanimously backed by all councillors present when the budget was approved.
Council officers estimated in March that removing free parking incentives would save £60,000.
Mr Stallard said: “From the conversations on the doorsteps, it’s clear local residents want easier access to our town centre, and these charges risk driving trade away and turning Hartlepool into a ghost town.
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“I’m calling for an urgent rethink on these charges so we can ensure local residents and businesses can benefit.”
A council spokesperson said: “These changes form part of the council’s 2026/27 budget which was approved earlier this year.
“The charges reflect a requirement for the car parking service to generate additional income to offset the decision to freeze core council tax.”
The same parking proposals were put forward in the previous year’s 2025/26 budget but were saved after the council received a “positive” local government finance settlement.
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Despite the council’s financial reasoning, Mr Stallard warned that the timing could not be worse for businesses already under pressure.
He said: “It could drive away customers.”
He argued that limiting free parking removes a vital incentive for shoppers and could further harm a town centre already facing economic challenges.
HONG KONG (AP) — Asian shares were mixed and oil was trading below $80 a barrel on Wednesday as markets watched for details on the interim agreement between the U.S. and Iran to end the war.
U.S. futures edged higher ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy decision announcement and after Wall Street closed mixed near their record highs.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 was 0.8% higher at 69,926.08 near its all-time high set this week, after official data showed Japan’s exports jumped 17% in May from a year earlier, helped in part by strong demand for high-tech products.
South Korea’s Kospi edged 0.2% lower to 8,706.10 with losses in big technology stocks tracking a sell-off of artificial intelligence-related shares on Wall Street. Samsung Electronics, the country’s most valuable company, fell 1.9%.
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Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 0.8% to 24,273.95, while the Shanghai Composite index slipped 0.1% to 4,089.26.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.5% to 8,965.30.
Taiwan’s Taiex fell 0.5%. India’s Sensex rose 0.3%.
Oil prices stabilized after falling sharply earlier on optimism of an end to the war and a possible reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, crucial for oil and gas transit worldwide. But challenges remain, including if the peace deal includes Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon.
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Brent crude, the international standard, traded 0.3% lower at $78.76 per barrel early Wednesday after falling more than 5% on Tuesday. It was still elevated compared to the roughly $70 a barrel level in late February before the war started.
Benchmark U.S. crude was down 0.4% to $75.78 a barrel.
“Normalizing (oil) flows will take time,” economists at HSBC wrote in a note this week. “Hurdles include mine clearance, insurance reinstatement, emptying excess Gulf oil storage, repositioning ships, and restarting idled production fields.”
In the U.S., the Fed on Tuesday began its two-day meeting, the first under its new chair Kevin Warsh, that would discuss interest rates with a decision announcement set for Wednesday.
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U.S. President Donald Trump has been pressing the Fed for lower rates to help stimulate the U.S. economy, but fresh worries are rising on worsening inflation over the Iran war-caused energy shock.
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Analysts are broadly expecting that the Fed will keep the benchmark rate unchanged. In the bond market, the yield on the U.S. 10-year Treasury fell to below 4.44% from 4.47% late Monday.
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“With weak wage growth and rent growth, underlying forces are pointing to inflation falling sharply once the energy price shock recedes. We don’t expect the Fed to hike rates in 2026,” Preston Caldwell, chief U.S. economist at Morningstar wrote in a commentary.
On Tuesday, Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 fell 0.6% to 7,511.35 after setting an all-time high earlier this month, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.6% to 51.999.67, hitting another all-time high.
The technology-heavy Nasdaq composite dropped 1.2% to 26,376.34 following losses of some big tech stocks over renewed worries about an AI bubble.
Shares of Nvidia fell 2.4%. Chipmaker Broadcom dropped 4.4% and Micron Technology lost 6.2%.
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SpaceX, Elon Musk’s rocket company, was up 4.8%, gaining for the third straight day since its Wall Street debut.
Yum Brands was up 1.9%, after it announced it is selling Pizza Hut for $2.7 billion with most restaurants purchased by private equity firm LongRange Capital.
In other dealings early Wednesday, the U.S. dollar fell to 160.30 Japanese yen from 160.42 yen. The euro was trading at $1.1612, up from $1.1608.
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AP Business Writers Elaine Kurtenbach, Stan Choe and Matt Ott contributed to this report.
Police and an air ambulance have responded to the incident on Shields Road in the Byker area of Newcastle with a massive cordon in place and many officers seen responding
07:58, 17 Jun 2026Updated 07:59, 17 Jun 2026
Emergency services have descended on a Newcastle street with a wide area sealed off after a major “disturbance” overnight.
An Air Ambulance supported the response which centred on Shields Road in the city’s Byker neighbourhood as a person was left seriously injured, the ambulance service said.
Live updates on roadworks and traffic incidents in Darlington, Bishop Auckland, Durham and the wider North East- including the A66, A19, A1(M), A1, A167, and the A69 this morning (June 17).
Public transport service updates from bus services, train services, including LNER, Cross Country, TransPennine, and Northern Rail. Updates from the Tyne and Wear Metro and the latest from Teesside and Newcastle Airports.
We’ll also be bringing you the latest hour-by-hour weather forecast for the region.
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Sign up for The Northern Echo’s newsletter for all the breaking North East news, including breaking traffic and travel updates, direct to your inbox.
Travel Disruptions
There seems to be no road disruptions or incidents at this time.
Train Disruptions
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There seems to be no train disruptions at this time.
What will the weather be like in the North East today?
According to the Met Office, today is expected to be cloudy and damp at first in Darlington before becoming drier and brighter.
There will be outbreaks of rain and drizzle during the morning, especially on western hills.
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It will likely become drier into the afternoon, with a greater chance of bright or sunny spells developing, especially in the east. It will remain warm, with light winds.
Maximum temperature is expected to be 21 °C.
Tonight, extensive low cloud with some drizzle will form on western hills.
Elsewhere, it will be drier with some variable cloud and some clear spells, especially to the east of higher ground. Minimum temperature will be 11 °C.
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Are there any roadworks in Darlington?
There are a number of ongoing roadworks in Darlington today.
This includes on Woodland Road, where there is currently two-way signals while workers install a new underground electric cable. This will remain in place until July 10.
You can see all the roadworks on the council website here.
A little boy in a car with his mum and aunt was killed by a police officer who opened fire on their vehicle.
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Kohen Kartier Wiley, 1, was shot and killed by a Mississippi police officer who was responding to an alleged shoplifting incident at Walmart.
Officers from the Senatobia Police Department said the boy’s mum and aunt had been driving ‘in the direction of officers’ before they opened fire.
A statement from the police department appears to show that officers knew that a child was in the car when they responded to the scene.
‘Upon arrival, officers encountered two subjects and a juvenile child fleeing from the store into a vehicle. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver drove in the direction of the officers, almost striking one,’ the department said.
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‘An officer then discharged their weapon, and the vehicle fled the scene. The subjects arrived at a local hospital, where one juvenile child in the vehicle was pronounced deceased, and another subject had critical injuries. No law enforcement officers received any serious physical injury.’
Witnesses said one woman carried Kohen and the other carried diapers (Picture: Facebook)
One witness said he saw the police waiting in the parking lot as the two women left Walmart, one holding a box of diapers and the other holding baby Kohen.
Another witness said: ‘I saw the officers take off running, not in the car, I’m talking about on foot, and these are the Sheriffs and the police.
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‘They’re running through the parking lot, and I see the car take off, you know, so in my head, I’m like, I know they’re not chasing the car, they don’t think they’re going to catch the car.
‘Then I hear gunshots, and I’m like, I know they’re not shooting at a car that’s leaving in a public place, this is Walmart.’
Carolyn Stokes, baby Kohen’s great-grandmother, told WREG: ‘Senatobia Police Department get away with too much stuff.
Baby Kohen was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital (Picture: Facebook)
‘I hear about it all the time, it’s in the news all the time, y’all probably down here all the time, recording this stuff, but it’s just too much.’
Last year, local media reported that a woman was tasered and tackled after police officers saw her ‘illegally park in a handicapped spot’. The woman said she was dropping off her grandmother.
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The Senatobia Police Department released a statement reading: ‘We are committed to full transparency.
‘As the investigation progresses and facts are verified, we will share as much information as possible.”
Homes England and The Hill Group are still to decide on a masterplan for the Cambridge East development
Cambridge is “already extremely well provided” amid calls for a new “lifelong learning” college on the Cambridge Airport site, the combined authority has said. Homes England and The Hill Group announced they had bought the land earlier this month with plans to build thousands of homes and a railway station.
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A regional training hub is one of the options that the developers are considering before they settle on a masterplan for the area. Antony Carpen, a resident who runs the Cambridge Town Owl blog, urged Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to enter into discussions to “explore the possibility” of building a new lifelong learning college near the planned Cambridge East station.
He said this “could help reverse the decline in enrolment in adult skills” and “provide the much-needed facilities that might enable adults looking to retrain in areas with chronic skills shortages to make the change”.
A council report said that enrolment in adult skills and tailored learning had fallen in the last year by 6.2 per cent in total learners and 7.4 per cent for new starters. Peterborough accounted for over 40 per cent of learners and enrolments, “significantly exceeding its share of the adult population”.
Cllr Lucy Nethsingha, chair of the skills committee, said the decline is not identified as “being always driven by a lack of physical premises or the availability of provision within communities”.
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She said: “We will always keep future infrastructure opportunities under review, including in relation to the Cambridge Airport site. The authority is focused on working with partners, including Homes England through the Strategic Place Partnership and the Cambridge Growth Company on the future skills needs of this area to enable inclusive growth.”
She said the responsibility for education is shared between the Department for Education, local authorities and individual providers – not just the combined authority.
The Liberal Democrat councillor said: “It’s about tracking provision but it’s also really important to be clear that take up of adult skills happens in a lot of different places which are not necessarily specific buildings.
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“Improving take up of adult skills is more about taking out mobile provision to find people where they are rather than building new sites. I would also say that if we were going to build new sites, Cambridge is already extremely well provided with education provision.”
The 66-year-old broadcaster and journalist made the announcement during the final two episodes of the fifth series of Clarkson’s Farm, released on Wednesday.
He shared the news with co-stars Kaleb Cooper and Charlie Ireland during a conversation at his Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire.
Mr Clarkson said: “I’ve got cancer.”
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When Mr Cooper asked where the cancer was located, Mr Clarkson replied: “Where it is, is of no concern to anybody.
“I’ve known since May.”
He explained that the cancer was detected early following a medical in May and described it as “aggressive”.
Mr Clarkson said: “I was praying we could get the harvest done and then I could go and get some treatment, but it’s going to be slap bang in the middle.”
Later in the episode, he revealed he had surgery to remove 10 per cent of his prostate.
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He also reflected on what has been a difficult year for his health, including a serious heart issue that required the fitting of two stents.
He said: “So we started the year and I had coronary heart disease and ended it with me with cancer.”
The series ends with footage of Mr Clarkson in a hospital bed as he undergoes treatment.
He told viewers: “Some of the treatment has gone awry, let’s say.
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“I’m going to be here for a little while.
“I’m nil by mouth, I don’t know what’s going to happen.
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“What I wanted to say was if this is all successful, I’ll see you for season six, and if it isn’t, I won’t.
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“Take care, everyone.”
Despite his diagnosis, Mr Clarkson continued working throughout 2025.
Production on the sixth series of Clarkson’s Farm is now expected to pause to allow time for his recovery.
What do you think of the latest Clarkson’s Farm series? Let us know in the comments
The Group of Seven leaders have issued a joint statement welcoming the peace deal between Iran and the US.
The G7 leaders said they “reaffirm that the right of transit passage without restrictions or tolls is the backbone of international trade”.
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“We support and are ready to contribute to the US-Iran deal implementation.”
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar17 June 2026 06:45
US to withdraw forces from areas surrounding Iran
The Trump administration has promised to withdraw its forces from areas surrounding Iran, Bloomberg reported, citing a clause in the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran to end their war.
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The clause states that the US will withdraw its forces within 30 days of a final peace agreement. The MOU is due to be formally signed in Geneva on Friday.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar17 June 2026 06:39
Trump hopes Iran war will be in ‘rearview mirror’
US president Donald Trump hopes that the Iran war would be in the “rearview mirror” after the official signing of the peace deal, details of which remain unknown to US lawmakers.
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When asked if the president would now focus on the Ukraine war, Trump responded: “We were focused on Iran. That’s going to be in the back, in the rearview mirror…. I want to do whatever I can.”
Few details have been publicly released about the initial deal, but it is believed to include reopening the Strait of Hormuz to global oil shipments, financial incentives for Iran if it meets certain benchmarks, and a 60-day period for talks on ending the country’s nuclear programme.
The deal will be formally signed on Friday in Geneva.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar17 June 2026 06:12
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Iran deal includes $300 billion fund – report
A $300bn private fund designed to kickstart investment into Iran is outlined in the US-Iran framework agreement and more than half that sum has already been committed, Reuters reported.
The fund is designed to give both sides an economic incentive to conclude a final deal to end the war, the agency reported, citing sources.
More than half of the amount has already been committed and it will be comprised entirely of private-sector funds, according to the report.
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US and Iranian officials said on Sunday they had agreed on a framework to end their war, which began when US and Israeli forces attacked Iran on 28 February, halt the US blockade of Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key supply route for global oil and gas.
The new fund is a private investment vehicle, not a reconstruction or reparations programme and will not include any government money or grants, the source said, adding that companies based in the US, the Gulf Arab states, Asia, South America and Africa have agreed to commit financing.
Investments pledged span energy, logistics, manufacturing and transport, the source said.
A senior Iranian source told Reuters that Tehran had originally sought $400bn as compensation for war damages from the US but Washington had said it would not provide it.
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The idea for the fund, which is to be named the Reconstruction and Development Fund, then emerged.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar17 June 2026 06:06
Tanker carrying one million barrels of Iranian oil crosses US blockade
A third tanker carrying one million barrels of Iranian crude oil has reportedly sailed past the US navy blockade in the Gulf of Oman, Al Jazeera reported, citing TankerTrackers.
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The maritime tracking service said the Sonia I vessel “exited the blockade line” at 1.11 GMT.
At least two other tankers carrying a total of 3.8 million barrels of Iranian oil exited the blockade line yesterday, according to the report.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar17 June 2026 05:54
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Australia relaxes Middle East travel advice
Australia this morning relaxed its travel advice for several Middle Eastern countries, allowing Australians to transit through and travel to the biggest Gulf air hubs with the security of being covered by insurance.
Foreign minister Penny Wong said the previous “do not travel” advisory had been lowered for the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Israel and Kuwait after the US and Iran reached an interim deal to end the war.
She said the advisory had moved to “reconsider your need to travel” to those countries, as the security situation could still deteriorate rapidly with little warning.
The removal of the “do not travel” warning is positive for Gulf airlines. They had carried more than half of all passengers flying from Europe to Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands before the war began in late February, according to aviation data firm Cirium.
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Many Australian travellers concerned about the risk of missiles and drones, schedule disruptions and the lack of travel insurance coverage had preferred flights on carriers like Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines and Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways that transited in Asia, driving up airfares.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar17 June 2026 05:15
Watch: Trump vows to read Iran deal to the media ‘word by word’
Trump vows to read Iran deal to the media ‘word by word’
Rachel Dobkin17 June 2026 05:00
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Israeli strikes kill 4 in Lebanon despite Trump’s criticism
Israeli drone strikes targeted three vehicles in southern Lebanon, killing at least four people and wounding others, even as Donald Trump berated Benjamin Netanyahu for his attacks on Lebanon.
Two people were killed in a double-tap strike, with a drone hitting a car in the village of Mayfadoun followed by a second strike after people had gathered at the scene, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported.
Another drone strike on the town of Shoukin killed two other people, the agency said.
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Fighting in Lebanon between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah has eased but has not completely stopped following the announcement of an interim peace deal between the United States and Iran on Monday.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar17 June 2026 04:55
Canada says US-Iran deal ‘game changer’
Canadian prime minister Mark Carney has said that the US-Iran peace deal is a “game changer” and that Ottawa supports efforts to implement the truce.
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“We’re very pleased with the deal that’s been struck. It sets the groundwork to ensure Iran doesn’t have a nuclear weapon, and could also enable a reintegration over time of the economies in the region as well as progress toward a settlement in Lebanon,” Carney told CNN.
The prime minister said he had seen the agreement and was “absolutely” supportive of it. The text of the deal has not been made public by the Trump administration.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar17 June 2026 04:45
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Oil prices stabilise below $80 a barrel
Oil prices edged higher in early trade this morning, clawing back some of the previous session’s losses, as investors assessed whether the Iran war will truly end and the Strait of Hormuz reopen.
Brent crude futures gained 47 cents, or 0.6 per cent, to $79.43 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate rose to $76.53 a barrel, up 48 cents, or 0.6 per cent.
Both benchmarks fell about 5 per cent for a second straight session yesterday to three-month lows on hopes a U.S.-Iran deal would allow oil flows through the Strait.
Netflix’s Bridgerton is a hugely popular period drama, but fans this Oscar-winning film starring Kirsten Dunst, surpasses it in every respect
A breathtaking period drama is being lauded as far superior to Netflix’s blockbuster series Bridgerton, particularly with regard to costumes and visual design.
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Viewers simply cannot get over how visually spectacular the period drama film is, as audiences become captivated by the wardrobe, set design, historical accuracy and distinctive tone of the picture.
Written, produced and directed by Sofia Coppola, Marie Antoinette is a highly stylised biographical drama that was released in cinemas in 2006.
The film is based on the 2001 biography penned by Antonia Fraser titled Marie Antoinette: The Journey and stars Kirsten Dunst in the lead role as France’s iconic teenage queen who met a gruesome end.
Jason Schwartzman, Jamie Dornan in his film debut, Judy Davis, Rip Torn, Rose Byrne, Asia Argento, Molly Shannon, Shirley Henderson, Danny Huston and Steve Coogan star alongside Dunst to complete a remarkable cast.
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The film’s official plot states: “The retelling of France’s iconic but ill-fated queen, Marie Antoinette. From her betrothal and marriage to Louis XVI at 14 to her reign as queen at 19 and to the end of her reign as queen, and ultimately the fall of Versailles.”, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Marie Antoinette made its world premiere at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival and received a nomination for the festival’s most coveted accolade – the Palme d’Or. It also claimed an Oscar for Best Costume Design at the 79th Academy Awards.
The period drama ‘masterpiece’ grossed roughly $60.9 million at the worldwide box office against a production budget of $40 million.
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The film attracted widespread acclaim, with one critic writing: “The film’s decadence and opulence as well as all the details in décor, costumes, wigs, etc is fascinating and shows that Coppola had a true vision for it.”
While another reviewer said: “Marie Antoinette has flaws, but still remains a good enough film with tremendous set and costume design. Add in Kirsten Dunst and her performance in the title role and you have something that a lot of audiences can enjoy.”
One critic lauded director Sofia Coppola: “Coppola has crafted a magical, intoxicating film, distinctly her own, that cements her place as one of the most exciting and original new voices in American film.”
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Some reviewers offered more measured opinions: “Marie Antoinette may have too much cake and not enough revolution but for the most part it is fun. Just leave your prejudices at the door.”
Nevertheless, there were plenty who were captivated by Coppola’s production: “Marie Antoinette is a decadent delight.”
Audience responses echoed similar sentiments, with one viewer saying: “One of the greatest movies of all al time. I said it.”
Meanwhile, another fan of the film said: “This is one of my favourite films of all time. It had a huge influence on me as a young teenager. Kirsten Dunst’s performance was not only captivating but her portrayal of Marie Antoinette taught me to lead my own path in life.
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“It’s what you take from this film that is important, the underlying messages and contrasts to modern reality is what’s important. The rest is just a beautifully put together piece of art.”
One viewer praised both Coppola and Dunst: “Sophia Coppola and Kirsten Dunst collabs are my favourite. For those of us who love this kind of stark contrast, and relate to the helplessness and hopelessness of being a teenage girl, especially in another era, this movie was a masterpiece.”
An IMDB user review of the film reads: “Sophia Coppola’s ‘Marie Antoinette’ works on all levels. It is a brilliant and spectacular portrayal of a long-past time; yet it also has an immediacy, and intimacy, and a warmth that draws us in and seduces us. tremendous and spectacular job all-round! ! ! I gave this a 10 out of 10.”
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While yet another fan said: “I give this movie a 10. Some will say the film is quirky, but I also predict that it will live on as one of the most fascinating films of recent years.”
One viewer added: “Brilliant. My opinion is Coppola had a clear vision of what she wanted to present and nails it. Easily one of my favourite works of recent years,” while another enthusiast wrote, “I thoroughly enjoyed this excellent film. It was a sumptuous feast for the eyes; the costumes and settings were superb.”
A further viewer said: “One of the Best Movies of All Time. This was a masterpiece for those of us who know little about French History. If you love visual splendour, great music, perfect production and direction, then watch this film orchestrated by the exquisite Sophia Coppola. You won’t be disappointed.”
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