Coppola's 'Priscilla' has everything she does right: rock 'n roll, girlhood and melancholy

2023 is shaping up to be the year of the girl movie.

This summer, in her bright pink glory, "Barbie" stunned screens for months, putting both Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie at the center of the universe. "Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret," is one of the quintessential novels become films about female puberty. And the year’s best comedies, "Joy Ride," "Bottoms" and "No Hard Feelings" have been female-focused.

But to many millennial women, no year of girl movies is complete without a dispatch from the moody queen of independent filmmaking Sofia Coppola. With her rockstar-studded soundtracks and iconic depictions of the nuances of girlhood, Sofia is the perfect director to take on the Elvis Presley story from his wife Priscilla’s point of view.

"Priscilla" follows teen Priscilla through her journey of falling in and out of love with the King of Rock and Roll, and what it meant to be so young while so close to stardom.

What is the plot of ‘Priscilla?’

Priscilla (Cailee Spaeny) is a shy 14-year-old girl living with her parents on a military base in West Germany. One day, she gets a coveted invitation to meet the American superstar who is serving overseas: Elvis Presley (Jacob Elordi).

“I’d have to ask my parents,” she responds — a stabbing reminder of how young she was when her relationship with Presley started.

The two meet and instantly it feels like the world stands still. The 6-foot-5 Presley (in this characterization) towers over the sheepish, teenage Priscilla, and yet there isn’t a sense of danger. It really does feel like love.

Despite pushback from her parents on their age difference, the two continue to see each other while he’s in Germany and Coppola reminds the audience of the elation of falling in love. While all teenagers are writing hearts around Elvis’ name on their notebooks, young Priscilla is doing it with his hand in hers.

She convinces her father to let her move to Graceland to be with Elvis when he returns to the States. What felt like a fairytale is suddenly not as magical when your boyfriend is the most coveted man in America.

Priscilla finishes high school while living on the famed compound, but 12th-grade algebra takes a mental backseat to celebrity relationships and long-distance dating rumors. When he’s home, Elvis quickly introduces his young girlfriend to the fast-lane life of prescription drugs, an addiction he dealt with for the rest of his life.

Trapped like a bird in a cage, Priscilla changes her appearance to appeal to his wants in a transformation scene that epitomizes Sofia Coppola’s directing. Trying to keep his attention at home while battling tabloid gossip about her boyfriend’s possible on-set love affairs, she extends herself sexually but is always denied.

Eventually, the two marry, capturing the memorable and ethereal wedding photos of the power couple. Unfortunately, a ring, a consummated marriage and parenthood can’t keep the pills, the jealousy and the sudden obsession with religion at bay.

The fighting carries on and to the tune of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You,” Priscilla Presley drives through a crowd of screaming fans and away from her relationship of 14 years.

She was 28-years-old.

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How does Priscilla feel about the 'Priscilla' movie?

Coppola’s rendition of the Presley story can’t help but be compared to Baz Luhrmann’s biopic from 2022. "Elvis" received eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, but no wins. While that film focused on Elvis the performer, "Priscilla" depicts Elvis the person.

The real Priscilla Presley served as an executive producer and co-writer of the movie, ensuring her story felt as authentic as possible. She has been involved in much of the movie’s press run, even shedding a tear on the red carpet premiere of the film at the Cannes Film Festival.

At times, it’s obvious that the film is based on Priscilla’s 1985 memoir “Elvis and Me,” giving the movie a chapters-of-a-book type feeling. But with a story so sensitive, I’d rather have that than the movie come across as exploitative or disingenuous.

Once again, Sofia Coppola captures how it feels to be a woman unrealistically idolized by a romantic partner — instead of simply respected.

'Priscilla' 4 stars

Great ★★★★★ Good ★★★★

Fair ★★★ Bad ★★ Bomb ★

Director: Sofia Coppola.

Cast: Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi.

Rating: R for drug use and some language.

How to Watch: In theaters Friday, November 3rd.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 'Priscilla' review: the famous love story from a new perspective