“Priscilla:” Being in Love with a Devil in a Rockstar’s Body

Released on Nov. 3, the movie “Priscilla” is actively spreading to all corners of the internet and gaining recognition. In addition to its popularity because of the story, many people know the movie because it was directed by the famous Sofia Coppola. She is known for her films focusing on femininity and specific details usually overlooked in male perspectives, such as girlhood, first love, growing and transformation from a girl to a woman. The movie is fascinating because of its cinematography, character development and story, which will not leave anyone uninterested.

Compared to the film “Elvis,” which was released in 2022, “Priscilla” is a more profound work. Unlike “Elvis,” which is based on an idealized image of Elvis Presley without showing his darker sides, Priscilla tells the story of the life of Priscilla Presley, Presley’s ex-wife. It is in this film that all the flaws of such a legendary rock star as Elvis Presley are shown, and viewers see that not everything was so effortless in this seemingly perfect relationship.

The movie follows the life story of Priscilla Presley and the development of her relationship with Elvis Presley (whom she met when she was 14 and he was 24) – from the first day they met to the end. The plot itself is based on Priscilla Presley’s memoir, “Elvis and Me,” and the creators have done a great job of perfectly conveying the whole vibe of their relationship. The movie is not difficult to watch, and the plot does not cause any headaches. However, during the movie, the viewer builds a particular emotional connection with the main character, and one can almost feel all her anxieties and fears. The film catches attention from the first minute, and, very soon, the viewer is completely involved in the screening, and it becomes challenging to tear the viewers away until they find out what the outcome of this tragic relationship between the main characters will be.

The movie’s cast was excellent, and everyone played their roles masterfully. Actress Cailee Spaeny portrayed Priscilla’s whole nature well and perfectly expressed her inner struggle with herself while in a relationship with Elvis. Jacob Elrodi, who played Elvis Presley, might not present very similar to Presley himself, but his performance was also spectacular as he showed what kind of person the singer was from the point of view of his wife. Priscilla herself was captivated by the performance of these two actors, and Sofia Coppola herself confirmed this by telling EW during a roundtable discussion: “When Priscilla first saw the final movie, the first thing she said was, ‘Cailee really – that’s how I felt. She expressed that. And she couldn’t believe how Jacob’s voice, she said it just sounded just so much like Elvis, so that was so gratifying to hear that from her.”

The movie is beautifully shot, and all the shots look very professional and pleasant to look at from an aesthetic perspective. The vibe of the film and its meaning are well conveyed. The sets, the costumes, the locations, all of it is depicted very neatly and looks realistic; as EW writes, “That attention to detail also extended to the sets. Coppola explains that production designer Tamara Deverell rebuilt parts of Graceland on a soundstage, using the house’s original plans and blueprints to meticulously recreate entire rooms.” Such attention from the director deserves a lot of respect because, as many people know, directors themselves often encounter difficulties with the movie sets.

All in all, this movie is worth watching (and more than once) and perfectly shows all sides and shades of Elvis and Priscilla’s relationship without idealizing it.