Everything changes, the drama remains – Style – Kommersant

Contrary to expectations, the second season of the White Lotus series turned out to be no weaker than the first. “Kommersant Style” tells about the phenomenon of this “film about hotels” and how the images of its main characters were created.

The first season of HBO’s streaming platform White Lotus aired last year and focused on the wealthy privileged guests of a five-star resort in Hawaii and the staff who catered to them. The second season has just wrapped up and it was another unsettling stay at a luxury hotel, this time located in Italy. The cast has changed new actors we see Aubrey Plaza, Michael Imperioli (one of the gangsters of The Sopranos), Theo James, Megan Faye, F. Murray Abraham and Hayley Lou Richardson. The “returning” actors are Jennifer Coolidge and John Grice, whose characters got married after the events of the first season. From the very beginning, the series has received high ratings and critical acclaim, with Coolidge and Murray Bartlett winning Critics Choice Awards, and the series itself has won a total of more than ten Emmy awards and was nominated for a Golden Globe in four categories this week. .

Luxurious living is shown in luxurious interiors: the first part of the series was filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Maui in Hawaii, and second season This black comedy took place at the Four Seasons San Domenico Palace in Taormina, Sicily. The resort itself was originally built as a monastery in 1374 and converted into a hotel in 1896. Its guests include numerous celebrities such as Audrey Hepburn, Oscar Wilde and Sophia Loren. It is already clear that, despite the high prices (from €1,000 to €6,000 per room, depending on the category), these two hotels will become objects of increased demand and attention from wealthy moviegoers – one can only dream of such advertising.

The new cast and new location heavily influenced the choice of hair and makeup for the main characters – Italy was definitely the main source of inspiration. Season 2’s atmosphere mirrored that of a Mediterranean small town, with skimpy outfits, shimmery eye makeup, tanned skin, and berry lip gloss. “We really wanted to show the local energy,” said the main stylist of the series, Mia Covero. “I am a fan of films like Stromboli, Adventure and Big Splash, so I wanted to capture the essence of what it means to go to Sicily.”

Makeup head Rebecca Hickey was inspired by “strong and sensual Italian women” such as actresses Maria Grazia Cucinotta and Donatella Finocchiaro. Traditionally, the sure signs of a vacation vibe are a tan and relaxed, messy hairdos. “I begged all the actors to use sunscreen, and we created a tan with a bronzer,” says Hickey.

The most impressive images of the series are female. So, Jennifer Coolidge plays the role of Tanya’s rich heiress and practically does not change from the first season: “It was a constant facial contouring, bronzer, lip liner, and, of course, false eyelashes. Tanya’s image is a lot of makeup, and her manicure is a classic of the 1990s – always a jacket and extended nails, ”says Rebecca Hickey.

Harper stands out among the guests of the “White Lotus”: it is comfortable, simple-cut clothes, natural makeup, maximum naturalness. Makeup artists used matte textures: lipstick, bronzers, eyeshadows. At the same time, her counterpart Daphne embodies the typical glamorous resort girl: she always has her hair done, fresh manicure, her lips are always made up, wet blush and cream eyeshadow are applied.

Portia is unlike any of the other White Lotus guests: she is a young, 20-year-old college fresh-out assistant who accompanies her boss, Tanya, on vacation. She is Gen Z and wears bucket hats, bright eyeshadow, green nails, and nose rings. She has already been dubbed the most poorly dressed character in the series, but its creators are sure that in this way they emphasize her youth and inexperience, she is still looking for her style and herself in this world.

Girls of easy virtue Mia and Lucia are dressed and behave accordingly: the first dreams of becoming a professional singer, and her friend wants to join the rich clientele of the White Lotus, to become one of them. Their characters evolve, including in appearance, and this is just as interesting to watch as the plot twists.

Series creator Mike White has already announced that he will be directing a sequel. “Season 1 was all about money, and season 2 was all about sex,” he said. “I think the third season will be perhaps a satirical and funny take on death, Eastern religion and spirituality.” It remains only to wait how exactly he sees it, and look forward to the pleasure of the upcoming viewing.

Irina Kirienko