Imagine you're a teenage girl in love with the biggest celebrity the world has ever seen. Imagine he chooses you.
Priscilla Presley lived every teenager's fantasy, and every woman's heartbreak.
This film sensitively handles the power imbalance, choosing to show their relationship through Priscilla's eyes. With a male director, this could have easily become a male gaze fantasy, but with Sofia Coppola, it becomes far more realistic.
That's not to say there are uncomfortable moments which feel heavy to watch. For example, when Priscilla is parading clothes under the eye of Elvis and his male entourage, or when Elvis gaslights her. These scenes elicit sympathy from the viewer for Priscilla's plight. A young, lonely, naive woman who just wants the fairytale romance she's been promised.
I wasn't convinced Jacob Elordi could pull off a convincing Elvis, but he did an adequate job. I think his youth and non-exposure to the pop culture phenomenon that is Elvis played a big part. Cailee Spaeny protrayed Priscilla's naivety well, although I thought the height difference between her and Elordi made Priscilla all the more childlike... Maybe that was the goal.
I must mention set design. It was beautiful! The Christmas trees stuck in my mind, as well as a scene near the end where Elvis sits in a red room, framed by metal love hearts. Perfection.
Recommended for everyone who has/had a celebrity crush and wondered "what if?"
Priscilla Presley lived every teenager's fantasy, and every woman's heartbreak.
This film sensitively handles the power imbalance, choosing to show their relationship through Priscilla's eyes. With a male director, this could have easily become a male gaze fantasy, but with Sofia Coppola, it becomes far more realistic.
That's not to say there are uncomfortable moments which feel heavy to watch. For example, when Priscilla is parading clothes under the eye of Elvis and his male entourage, or when Elvis gaslights her. These scenes elicit sympathy from the viewer for Priscilla's plight. A young, lonely, naive woman who just wants the fairytale romance she's been promised.
I wasn't convinced Jacob Elordi could pull off a convincing Elvis, but he did an adequate job. I think his youth and non-exposure to the pop culture phenomenon that is Elvis played a big part. Cailee Spaeny protrayed Priscilla's naivety well, although I thought the height difference between her and Elordi made Priscilla all the more childlike... Maybe that was the goal.
I must mention set design. It was beautiful! The Christmas trees stuck in my mind, as well as a scene near the end where Elvis sits in a red room, framed by metal love hearts. Perfection.
Recommended for everyone who has/had a celebrity crush and wondered "what if?"