Colors in Cleopatra play a role in deciphering the importance and ranks of characters. There is a scene early on in the film that represents this clearly. It is when Caesar arrives in Egypt for the first time. In the foreground is Ptolemy and his royal aids, all in lavish gold armor and clothing. This shows their wealth and power in the scene. In the background are the workers unloading crates from the dock. They are in browns and tans, to show their lower class lifestyle. It is a more rugged and worn color. The clothing that the characters wear is significant in discovering motives and positions of power.
Landon, you are absolutely right interpreting the contrast between the lavishly golden costumes of the Egyptian courtiers, their much more humble subjects, and the Romans. But it seems that's not the exact shot you uploaded. I don't see the young king Ptolemy XIII on this shot at all. Instead, it is actually quite interesting because he is _not_ visible. Instead, Caesar is moving toward the real power broker, General Achilleas. And what about the two Nubian servants standing in front of the terracotta pot? In hindsight, their presence seems as ominous as the overcast sky.
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