With clear digital photography by Sofia Coppola, ‘Priscilla’ forms an in-depth portrait of Elvis Presley’s ex-wife, but it’s not about feminism

Directed by one woman and centered on the story of another, Priscilla It’s not a film about feminism. The feature film by Sofia Coppola based on the book Elvis and I (1985)signed by Priscilla Presleyis constructed without dispensing with the basic steps of the hero’s journey, but it does not seem to propose a message.

Although Priscilla It is Elvis Although they were born in the United States, their lives crossed paths in West Germany, where the already renowned rock star served in the military. The then 14-year-old girl’s gray days began to be warmed by the big parties that Elvis took place in his own home.

The natural course of the trajectory of Priscilla was interrupted when a man 10 years older said to her something like “you’re very mature for your age”. It’s not uncommon for teenagers to come prey to men looking for a wife to call “Mom.” In case of Priscilla, the fact that she was selected by someone with the social caliber of Elvis It was enough of an appeal for her to remain in love and solitude for years until the artist invited her to move to Graceland.

The girl’s mother, Anna Lillian Iversenhe was reluctant and even questioned what an adult like Elvis wanted with her daughter, considering that the musician’s success could lead many women — of a similar age — into his arms. Scared to watch Priscilla become rebellious and abruptly break ties with family to belong to Elvis, mother and stepfather allowed her to leave. Perhaps, Annaperformed by the incredible Dagmara Dominczykhe thought that there could be no happier ending than that for his daughter.

In Memphis, Priscilla She had a double life: in the morning, she attended school, in the afternoon, she returned to her famous boyfriend’s mansion and escaped the predatory flashes of the paparazzi. Female competition and feelings of inferiority are just some of the reasons that lead women to devote themselves to the man they are in love with. Elvishowever, he wasn’t that attached to his girlfriend, as he constantly cheated on her.

Having completed high school, Priscilla I no longer saw any obstacles that could prevent her from finally being an adult woman. The transition was accompanied by a change in the young woman’s look, as she darkened her hair, began to line her eyes heavily and spared no hairspray to maintain a hairstyle characteristic of the 1960s. She thought she was doing it for herself, but, in fact, his personality and appearance were being molded into the way of Elviswho paid for everything.

At the beginning of the relationship, the musician isolated his girlfriend. On one occasion, he gives her the medicine he uses to sleep, and she remains unconscious for days. The scene subtly shows how the rock star maintained his drug addiction.

During the period in which Elvis leaves the house to play shows, we don’t board the bus with the King of Rock, his team and friends — the viewer is left with only the silence that surrounds Priscilla. Although she considered looking for a job, she was stopped by her boyfriend.

No friends or relatives, just the pet dog, Priscilla continued delving deeper into the failed romance with Elvis, which culminated in marriage. The union document, however, was no greater obstacle than the fear of finding out who she was alone. Suffering various types of violence and rejection from the love of her life, Priscilla She did what few women can do: abandon her attacker.

“Maybe in another time, maybe in another place”, he admits Elvis at one point in the film. The intention of Sofia Coppolaas the director herself stated in a conversation with Richard Curtis, at the BFI Southbankit was not to portray Elvis as a villain. Recent interviews with Priscilla Presley They also demonstrate that she does not intend to tarnish her ex-husband’s legacy.

Cailee Spaeny shined in his performance as Priscilla. The paper is as distinct from previous works as in Before the end (2021), that we recognize her as the character she plays, almost literally incarnated. Jacob Elordiin turn, has also proven versatility in his career as an actor, since, in the space of a few weeks, he managed to play Elvisin PriscillaIt is Felix Cattonin Saltburn.

Sofia Coppola, again, was surgical in its depiction of a woman. She herself is constantly associated with her father’s work, Francis Ford Coppolaand maintains a relationship with someone who is also tied to the hardships of fame, Thomas Marslead singer of the band Phoenix.

Like this Encounters and Mismatches (2003), for example, it is as if Priscilla ended suddenly, with no moral of the story or defined ending. This is precisely the fingerprint left by Sofia that makes your film portray Elvis Presley better than the one full of paraphernalia Elvis (2022), directed by Baz Luhrmann.

Priscilla arrived in cinemas this Thursday, 4th, and will soon be available on MUBI.