It appears that 2023 has become the year for the female gaze in cinema.
Feminine rage, mystique, beauty –– all things that director Sofia Coppola is known for executing distinctly and masterfully. 
Adapted from Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir “Elvis and Me,” Coppola brings a blush-pink Americana wonderland to the screen. The natural move is to compare this biopic to Baz Lurhmann’s “Elvis” film, released summer 2022. But “Priscilla” stands boldly, and quite divinely, on its own.
Priscilla Beaulieu, played by Cailee Spaeny, first encounters Elvis Presley, played by Jacob Elordi, in September of 1959 when she is invited to a soirée at Elvis’s rental home in West Germany. Priscilla, or “Cilla,” is merely a high school freshman when inaugurated into the hearthtrob’s dazzling universe, a verity that Coppola presents to the audience bluntly.
Their juvenile love starts rather innocently, sharing flirtatious desires and giddy movie dates, all as Elvis charms Priscilla with his novel lifestyle. While other school girls are spending their evenings toiling over studies, Priscilla is partying with Elvis and his of-age entourage.
The two’s dynamic becomes clear soon after their introduction. When Elvis talks, he knows Priscilla will listen. While of course she is entranced by his being, it is quite early on established that Beaulieu is a gentle soul who captivates a hurting Elvis, especially following the passing of his mother.
Priscilla becomes Elvis’s guidepost, her delicate poise a magnet for the superstar in desperate need of blind compassion. It is no secret he is troubled from early on in his career –– diluting the all-consuming pains of super stardom with prescription pills on the regular –– a habit which Elvis later shares with a teenage Priscilla as she begins struggling in school.
Rather than acting as a caricature of Elvis Presley, Elordi focuses on establishing Presley’s essence through an ambiguously masculine and enchanting portrayal. He represents the quieter, domestic side of Elvis that other modern interpretations often shy away from acknowledging to such an extent. Elordi proves that often less is more, as his grounded performance juxtaposes Austin Butler’s previous Elvis, which comparatively bears a likeness to any Las Vegas strip impersonator.
This take, although far less flashy, is refreshing and allows for Priscilla to control her own narrative. Thus it is no longer an admirer’s romanticized tale of the ‘King of Rock n’ Roll,’ rather simply the story of a young girl falling madly in love.
Along comes 1960 and Elvis is honorably discharged from the war, subsequently heading to Memphis, Tennessee to return home to his Graceland mansion. He and Priscilla are sprung into a yearlong separation, full of both yearning and whispers of illicit affairs as Elvis’s Hollywood reputation only grows. Meanwhile, Priscilla embraces her bittersweet teenage daydream, patiently awaiting Elvis’s calls and counting down the days before she next sees him.
On the contingency that she excels in her studies, Priscilla moves out to Graceland to finish out high school and begin a life with her famed lover. But Graceland slowly turns from an uncharted paradise into a haven of excess, no longer remnant of the dream that once existed for a bright-eyed Priscilla. The two soon begin sharing a last name, establishing the Presley presence throughout Memphis and the realm of tabloid headlines.
Cailee Spaeny’s performance as Priscilla is subtle, like the film itself, however incandescent. Spaeny’s striking appearance on camera allows for her transformation into Priscilla Presley to appear all the more seamless, particularly as she grows older and evolves into her classic public image: jet black teased hair and cat-winged liquid eyeliner, an image meticulously curated by Elvis and his team.
“Priscilla” is effortlessly feminine –– capable of entertaining all yet speaks boldly to its female audience. Sofia Coppola has a gift, the ability to write a female lead as striking as she is vulnerable, as sensual and beautiful as she is profoundly feeling and intellectual. It is no marvel as to why Priscilla Presley herself entrusted Coppola the responsibility of bringing her story to life on screen.
Priscilla’s crowning moment is her liberation from Graceland’s opulent gates, a solo drive away to Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.” Hair down and bare faced, the new mother accepts a life beyond the Presley name. She is forever Priscilla, not just a Presley — and Coppola forever secures her legacy as such.
Great review for a great film! I’m so pleased to hear that you loved this as well!
Elvis did not return from ‘the war’. He came back from doing his national service.
I am -now a 80 year old “Forever Faithful Elvis Presley Fan”. My comment is that I have read both the hard cover, and the paper back of Priscilla’s very interesting book. I cannot wait to view the film. Here in CA., I believe it will be in theatres, 11/03. I was very moved at the scenes in the recent “Elvis” Movie – where the actress who played Priscilla confronted Elvis about his drug use. So, this portrayal is going to be really true life story. The way it really transpired. Thank you for the film review. I am still happily married – 54 years, and drive my husband crazy – with my loving everything “Elvis”. I want to commend Priscilla for sharing the true story with Fans. I have always wished her happiness (even on the day my heart was broken – when she became Mrs. Elvis Presley). Thanks.
For someone who wanted to leave the Presley name behind, Priscilla chose to live 20 years with a man rather than take his name, she’s been in the years since Elvis death on talk shows talking about him, and not in the negative way. After 40 some years she wants her story told ,yet again…yeah, she wanted to be free of Elvis, just not his fame, his money, his legacy….
I’m not even gonna read this. I read her book & she lied. Let’s get this straight. She was not his widow because she divorced him. I adored her when he did but I’m not happy with her decisions since. Priscilla is fake!!
What I’ve read is good n I believe true story!!!
Seriously! Priscilla would love for Elvis fans to buy into this tale. Her problem is that we are Elvis fans … not her fans. She would have been unknown if it wasn’t for Elvis. Neither one were innocent of wrongdoing in this relationship but Priscilla was far from the saintly portrait painted of her.
so real
I can’t believe that Priscilla is still making money on Elvis Fame. I just think she should let Elvis rest in peace.
Go about her own life and enjoy the family she has now. We the fans of Elvis
don’t want to hear Priscillas negative remarks about Elvis. I for one will not be seeing this movie.👎👋👋
Nobody really cares about Prescilla. The movie will be a huge bomb. The people who thought this movie was a good idea should find a new line of work.
Priscilla is greedy and she has made enough money off the Presley name. I don’t plan to see her movie and I’m planning on talking others out of watching her movie. I believe she is a liar based on how she claimed Elvis fell apart after she left. According to Linda Thompson, Elvis didn’t fall apart and Linda was the first one Lisa Marie called because she knew Linda’s love for her Dad and her was real. Just think about how it would seem that most kids would call their mom.
Austin Butler became Elvis. Lisa Marie and Priscilla both loved his work. I’m afraid I have to disagree with comparing Austin with an Elvis impersonator.
Fine to give “Priscilla ” praise after all it is Priscilla
who wrote the book! The put down of the “Elvis” movie is totally unnecessary and wrong as the public reception of “Elvis” has proved! It is not a cheap Elvis impersonation by Austin Butler. As Priscilla Presley herself said that Elvis would say”That’s me!”of Austin’s stellar performance if he saw it! Lisa Marie was so taken by the portrayal of her Dad that she was there with Pricscilla when he won the “Golden Globe” for the role of “ becoming” Elvis in everyway— that is why the title is “Elvis”!!! So let “Priscilla” shine BUT don’t tear down something as remarkable as Austin Butler’s Elvis portrayal and equate it with an Elvis “impersonator” !!!
Oh so she leaves” Not Just a Presley”…….
Well she certainly could have gotten her maiden name back. But then she wouldn’t have had a lifetime of Presley Perks would she.
This is not a movie I support because It’s
Not truly reported . But the worst of it all is
That this X-Wife is being allowed burial at
Graceland. What X- Wife does this!???
She is NOT his Widow… She has had a lifetime of luxury & perks endless fame because OF
That PRESLEY Name….Give me a break
Please. You Do Not Fool us All Cillia.
If she didn’t want to be a “Presley” anymore, why did she keep his name? And I would bet $100 that if Lisa Marie was still alive, there would be no Priscilla movie!
When is this woman going to stop riding on the deceased Elvis coat tails? She just as bad as all those other hanger ons!! Money grubbing and I could go on forever here seriously all she’s done is hang on the the Presley name and fame she has no right to any of it when she decided a divorce and left him
What a shame and ppl has just let her keep doing it. So convenient to tell “her” part of the story now that no one else is alive to challenge it
Looking forward to seeing this. A tribute to Sophia’s Direction and priscilla’s authenticity as a human being.
Blessi ngs to all involved in making this film. But what about the music? Why couldn’t Sophia securecthe rights?
Because the Presley estate denied their request to use his music. Probably because this film sheds a negative light on Elvis.
I feel like this is a true description of their relationship as I knew it growing up.
Can’t wait to see movie
There are always two sides to every story! She kept the Presley name because that was her child’s last name. Lisa was her child too! I don’t know why you all think you are experts on “Elvis” and Pricilla . Did you live everyday life with them! No you did not! You go by what the tabloids reported…all garbage! Those stories are “ money” motivated words … majority of their topics are made up stories to sell their magazine! So who is still living on Elvis’s name???? Elvis’s name will always sell anything ! I’m not saying Pricilla is a poor innocent remanent of Elvis’s legacy but she knew the man better than you or I. How could any of you live with a man that appeared to be coddling other women .. gone from home indefinitely….and bringing his entarouge of people into your house on a daily basis! Do you think they lived life as a normal family? I don’t think so. Her story may be one sided but it is how she perceived her own story and I imagine that there were areas that were rewritten to make the story more appealing. In my opinion… everyone is entitled to one…doesn’t mean it’s right or wrong… Pricilla became cold and had no apparent personality, definitely not a people person. Very rarely does she smile! She has not aged gracefully. I don’t think she see’s what we see. Her face is a head shaker. Every time I see her I ask the lord to please help this woman.
I don’t know the real truth, however, I look forward to seeing the movie, I am an ELVIS fan as much as anyone. Priscilla was not perfect, neither was Elvis, His comments that have been printed time after time, about saying to one of his group,” Out of context.” She is beautiful, She is young, I can mold her the way I want. And he set out to do just that. Having her to dye her hair jet black, the heavy black eye make up, Clothes that made her look older. I would have been just like her eager to please. My birthdate is May 18, 1945, Priscilla’s birthdate is May 25, 1945. I swooned over him just as much as anyone, however, she was too young to think rationally, nor would she object to anything he requested her to do. If her parents had not given in to allowing her to move to Memphis, they would only have had an irate teenager on their hands, most of us can identify with that, I certainly can. I am not going to go into all of the ways she had to change to be what Elvis wanted her to however, I am not going to bash her completely. She was living out a teenage dream, Elvis wanted her, because she was beautiful, young and easily. Adaptable to his ways, Therefore she was home in Memphis, While he made movies while he lived a different way of life. For all of this, I can see that she LOVED him, I believe he LOVED her, He wanted her, and the other life too. Eventually she did succumb to seeking attention from another. I feel she treated the Presley name well, and was due to keep the name if she desired, as she earned that right. I will add, that the Mansion he Loved, would have been lost, had it. Not been for Priscilla’s business head. The opening of the mansion for tours, provided you and I with the opportunity to be one of the tourist to see it. I am not writing this to be argumentative in any way, this is my opinion, just have others have expressed their opinion. Respectfully submitted, By
Nobody knows what she went through with him. She loved him deeply. But his affairs with other women were hurtful to her..after she had lisa he would not touch her .elvis did love her very much but I feel it was more for his convenience cause she always stood by him and yesed him to much. .let her live her life she’s been through enough tradgy to endure rather then gossip. Loved elvis ♥️ and he will always be a legend