Internationally recognised art and literary critic, writer and cultural producer. Published in ELLE, Glamour, Esquire and Cosmopolitan; member of the Union of Writers.
Sofia Coppola is no stranger to exploring the lives of famous women. From Marie Antoinette to Peggy Guggenheim, from Billie Holiday to Nicole Kidman, Coppola has shown a keen interest and talent in portraying complex and fascinating female characters on the big screen. Her latest film, “Priscilla”, is no exception. The film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September 2023, and which will be released in the UK in January 2024, tells the story of Priscilla Presley, the wife of Elvis Presley, the king of rock and roll.
Priscilla Presley is a name that many people recognize, but few know much about. She is often seen as a footnote in Elvis Presley’s biography, a beautiful but passive woman who married him when she was only 14 years old, and who divorced him after 12 years of marriage. She is also known as the mother of Lisa Marie Presley, and the grandmother of Riley Keough and Benjamin Keough, who tragically committed suicide in 2020.
But Coppola’s film aims to change that perception, and to give Priscilla Presley the voice and the agency that she deserves. Coppola, who wrote, directed, and produced the film, says that she was inspired by Priscilla Presley’s autobiography, “Elvis and Me”, which she read when she was a teenager. “I was fascinated by her story, by how she met Elvis when she was so young, and how she moved to Graceland and became his wife. I wanted to know more about her, about what she felt and thought, and how she coped with being in his shadow,” Coppola says.
Coppola says that she wanted to make a film that was not a typical biopic, but a more intimate and personal portrait of Priscilla Presley, focusing on her relationship with Elvis, and on her own identity and aspirations. “I wanted to show her as a human being, not as a stereotype or a victim. I wanted to show her strength, her courage, her resilience, and her love. I wanted to show how she grew and changed, and how she found herself,” Coppola says.
The film spans from 1959, when Priscilla, then a 14-year-old army brat living in Germany, meets Elvis, then a 24-year-old superstar serving in the US Army, to 1973, when Priscilla, then a 28-year-old mother and businesswoman, leaves Elvis, then a 38-year-old legend struggling with addiction and depression. The film depicts the highs and lows of their marriage, from their fairy-tale wedding in Las Vegas, to their turbulent life in Graceland, to their bitter divorce in Los Angeles. The film also explores the challenges and pressures that Priscilla faced, such as Elvis’s infidelity, drug abuse, and control over her life and appearance. “He tried to remake her into the ideal woman, into his fantasy. He wanted her to be perfect, to be young, to be blonde, to be obedient. He wanted her to be everything that he was not,” Coppola says.
The film also shows the joys and achievements that Priscilla experienced, such as her friendship with other women, her passion for karate and acting, her involvement in Elvis’s career and legacy, and her success as an entrepreneur and a philanthropist. “She was not just a trophy wife, she was a smart and talented woman. She had her own dreams and goals, and she pursued them. She was not just Elvis’s wife, she was Priscilla,” Coppola says.
The film features a stellar cast, led by Elle Fanning as Priscilla Presley, and Timothée Chalamet as Elvis Presley. Coppola says that she was impressed by their performances, and by their chemistry and charisma. “They are both amazing actors, and they really embodied their characters. They did a lot of research, and they worked very hard to capture the essence and the spirit of Priscilla and Elvis. They also had a great rapport, and they brought a lot of emotion and energy to the screen,” Coppola says.
The film also boasts a stunning production design, a dazzling costume design, and a rocking soundtrack, featuring some of Elvis Presley’s most iconic songs, as well as some original songs composed by Phoenix, the French band led by Coppola’s husband, Thomas Mars. Coppola says that she wanted to create a film that was visually and audibly appealing, and that reflected the style and the mood of the era. “I wanted to make a film that was beautiful and fun, but also realistic and authentic. I wanted to recreate the atmosphere and the culture of the 60s and the 70s, and to show the contrast and the evolution of Priscilla and Elvis,” Coppola says.
Coppola’s film has received critical acclaim and audience applause, and has been nominated for several awards, including the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, and the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Drama. Coppola says that she is honored and grateful for the recognition, and that she hopes that her film will inspire and enlighten the viewers. “I hope that my film will make people appreciate and respect Priscilla Presley more, and that they will see her as a role model and a hero. I hope that my film will also make people think and feel, and that they will enjoy and love it,” Coppola says.
