“Priscilla:” The Other Side of the Coin
Photo via Tanya Sifuentes on Flickr
“I wanted Priscilla to watch this movie and feel safe,” says Cailee Spaeny, who stars as Priscilla Presley in the 2023 biopic “Priscilla.” Written and directed by Sofia Coppola and inspired by Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir “Elvis and Me,” the film is a whirlwind of emotions that throws Elvis and Priscilla’s relationship into the forefront. Coppola’s choice to include only her first name in the title reflects her detachment from Elvis. The film focuses on Priscilla’s perspective as opposed to portraying her as a mere counterpart to her now ex-husband.
I feel it’s safe to say that the majority of our generation has little to say about Elvis Presley. His household name has had arguably no impact on today’s culture, but due to the sudden release of movies such as “Elvis” in 2022 and, of course, “Priscilla,” we are reminded of him as our parents and relatives swoon about the legacy he has left behind. But how much is considered general knowledge about him? Or, more specifically, how much do we know about his relationship with Priscilla?
The opening scene of “Priscilla” is calm and elegant, as we watch Priscilla carry out a seemingly ritualistic routine of makeup, nail polish and hairspray. Her hair is jet black, her eyeliner is heavy: she is fierce, bold and beautiful.
The following abrupt cut introduces a younger Priscilla with light brown hair, sitting by a bar with her homework alongside a glass bottle of Coke. This girl is 14, and she’s wide-eyed, polite and quiet.
It’s hard to believe these two women are the same person, but the transition of Priscilla’s appearance is something that we watch unfold as she grows closer to Elvis and becomes submerged in his life of stardom.
Priscila is then approached by a man in a military uniform who asks, “Do you like Elvis Presley?” to which she responds, “Of course, who doesn’t?” He invites her to Elvis’ house, explaining that he is his close friend and thinks that Elvis would like her. When they first meet, Priscilla is 14, and Elvis is 24.
From here, their relationship quickly develops, and they are infatuated with each other. She leaves her family behind and moves in with Elvis when she is 17, and is immediately thrown into his world. Jacob Elordi (who plays Elvis) and Spaeny do an immaculate job portraying the dynamic of their relationship. Elvis is demanding – obsessed with her appearance and her chastity, and Priscilla remains compliant in her desperation to please him. Coppola’s unapologetic portrayal of the abuse Priscilla endured from him accompanied by the dreamy and vibrant coloring is telling of the complexity of what she is experiencing: this is the life countless young women want, but it is tearing her to pieces.
Coppola doesn’t shy away from emphasizing the large age gap between them, with Elvis saying things such as, “Promise me you’ll stay the way you are now” to Priscilla, and “She’s much more mature for her age” to her father, as well as calling her disturbing pet names such as, “little one” and “baby.” She is essentially groomed by Elvis to serve as his subordinate, a prisoner in a house that he hardly ever resides in. “It was a different time,” Priscilla states in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “I lived in his world. I wanted to please him. I wanted to fit in. I wanted to have fun with him. I wanted to see what it was that he liked.”
Overall, this film is a myriad of messy emotions that slowly rise to the surface as Priscilla realizes that she has lost years of her life to him, and as a result her youth. Coppola does a beautiful job of connecting the audience to her – it is easy to feel what she’s feeling – and as a result there is a great amount of anger and despair harbored towards Elvis and the life he has built around her. This film is a beautiful portrayal of an ugly reality faced by women everywhere – the exploitation of an innocent desperation to feel loved.