Priscilla

As perhaps the most pivotal entertainer in American history, the story of Elvis Presley has been told from countless angles. Here the story is told by his wife, Priscilla. Written, produced, and directed by Sofia Coppola, the film is based on Priscilla Presley’s autobiography “Elvis and Me,” published in 1985. Priscilla Presley is also listed as a producer on the film, and so we want to assume it is accurate although we recognize it is through her lens we will see the story unfold. At the height of his career in 1959 Elvis is drafted and sent to Germany, but not before his manager, Colonel Tom Parker (whom we came to know and loathe in Baz Lurman’s film with its also-one-name-title “Elvis” last year) stockpiled a bunch of recordings to release during Elvis’s tour of duty.

Priscilla is 14 years old when she is invited to a party at Elvis’s house, over the protestations of her military officer father and mother. Nonetheless, they are persuaded that she can go, and Elvis later visits them to persuade her parents that the two can begin dating. The gap between Elvis and Priscilla in age (a decade) and experience is stunning. By then, Elvis has had all manner of women offering themselves up for whatever he might desire, whereas Priscilla’s big excitement is learning trigonometry.

Elvis eventually returns to Memphis. After several years, he reconnects with her and somehow convinces her parents to let her come live at Graceland to finish high school. At her Catholic school, Priscilla is a source of derision and mystery.

Her life when Elvis is in town is basically encompassed by the Memphis Mafia, the posse that Presley kept close at hand to cater to his every whim. When he departs for Hollywood for filming or hits the road on tour, Priscilla is captive in her gilded cage.

In the eponymous role is Cailee Spaeny, who comes across from our distant perspective as overly demure and far less demanding than what would be expected today. Nonetheless, it seems that she willingly married Elvis and compartmentalized his peccadilloes, dalliances with the likes of Ann-Margret and drug use. Elvis is played by Jacob Elordi in pretty good form.

Because we have seen Elvis portrayed by so many people it is hard to keep in mind the actual performer and his incredibly influential role in American entertainment.

This is yet another film that asks if and how we can separate the art from the artist.