Listen to the audio version of the article
Reversing the perspective: it is something that Sofia Coppola has already done extensively in her career, telling, for example, the life of Marie Antoinette in a beautiful feature film of the same name in which the sovereign of France was reinterpreted with a pop style and a completely aesthetic Contemporary.
The American director takes up this type of challenge with “Priscilla”, a film that shows us the myth of Elvis Presley through the eyes of his wife Priscilla Beaulieu: the two married in 1967, after a very long engagement, and separated in 1973.
One of the most anticipated films of the weekend in theaters, “Priscilla” opens with the protagonist who, while still a teenager, meets Elvis Presley at a party: the man, who is already a rock’n’roll superstar, immediately shows interest to her, so much so that he wanted to see her again as soon as possible and later take her to Graceland to live with him and his family. Through the eyes of Priscilla, Sofia Coppola tells the hidden side of a great American myth, from the long courtship to a turbulent marriage marked by continuous ups and downs. The two will also have a daughter – Lisa Marie – who however will not help to quell the growing conflicts between the two parents.
“Elvis and Me”
Taking inspiration from the 1985 autobiographical book “Elvis and Me”, written by Priscilla Presley with Sandra Harmon, this film confirms Sofia Coppola’s desire to go beyond the conventions of the biographical genre to focus on much more personal and characterizing elements.
Priscilla thus becomes, in the film, yet another teenager in search of herself from Sofia Coppola’s filmography, with comparisons that, in addition to the aforementioned “Marie Antoinette”, can include “The Virgin Suicides” or “Bling Ring”.
Impeccable packaging but the pace is fluctuating
The operation is undoubtedly interesting and the packaging is simply impeccable, but the director fails to excite as in her other films, due to a fluctuating rhythm and an involvement that only works at times. The writing is still effective, but a few more twists would certainly have improved the entire operation. In any case, a special mention goes to Sofia Coppola’s ability to best direct her cast: both Jacob Elordi (recently seen also in “Saltburn”) as Elvis and Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla are perfectly cast. . Thanks to her performance, the actress obtained the Volpi Cup for best female performance at the latest Venice Film Festival, with a jury decision that however surprised many.