What Life Was Really Like as Elvis’ Lover; A24’s ‘Priscilla’ Offers the Perspective Fans Have Been Missing for Years.
By Madi Steffler
“Priscilla,” directed and produced by Sofia Coppola, offers the poignant exploration of self-discovery as a young girl falls in love with Elvis Presley. Just a year and a half after Warner Bros released Elvis, A24’s Priscilla was released, offering a unique perspective on what life was like as the extremely sought-after position of Elvis Presley’s lover.
When 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu met Elvis Presley during his military service in Germany, the rock and roll sensation proved to be someone unexpected when spending private moments with the girl. Presley immediately took a liking to the young girl and pursued a relationship with her.
Based on Priscilla Presley’s 1985 “Elvis and Me” memoir, the film offers the isolating perspective of leaving family behind to marry someone constantly in the spotlight. Many Elvis fans are shocked to learn that he was ten years older than Priscilla when the two shared their first kiss. The film displays an obvious imbalance of power when it comes to the two’s relationship, and although it’s obvious Presley never forces the young girl into anything, the manipulation is evident.
Once Presley returned to the United States to begin his acting career, he left Priscilla behind for months without as much as a phone call. Once the superstar decided to see her again, he called and insisted she return to the United States to visit him. After much convincing, Priscilla finds herself on a plane headed to Graceland, where Elvis knocks her out for two days with sleeping pills and then takes her to Vegas. Despite the culture shock and questionable decisions, Priscilla has no interest in returning to Germany and is set on spending the rest of her life with Presley.
One of the film’s greatest strengths is the ability to convey the isolation and manipulation of Priscilla’s relationship, which most fans didn’t see from the outside. Throughout the movie, Priscilla gains the confidence to stand up for herself and learn her worth. The performances in the film were exceptional. Coppola’s selection of Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla and Jacob Elordi as Elvis Presley brought the film to life.
Minor details in the movie reflect the imbalance of power Priscilla experienced during her time living at Graceland. Scenes where Presley gets physically violent with Spaeny’s character came from anecdotes in Priscilla Presley’s “Elvis and Me” memoir. For example, when Elvis gets angry at Priscilla while listening to his new music, he throws a chair against the wall, just barely missing her head.
The film’s unique and unseen perspective on Priscilla’s experience with the superstar offers fans the opportunity to understand that life isn’t always what it seems. People aren’t always as they seem, and marrying Elvis Presley sure wasn’t as glamorous as every female during his era imagined it to be. The film ends with a powerful scene of Priscilla gaining the strength to walk away from the toxic situation and leave Elvis behind.
★★★★★ 5 Stars
Movie available to rent or purchase on Amazon Prime, Youtube TV, and Apple TV.
