Sofia Coppola's 'understated, non-judgemental portrait' of Elvis's wife Priscilla Presley is 'quietly affecting', writes Nicholas Barber from the Venice Film Festival.
Cailee Spaeny plays Priscilla Beaulieu, as she is known for the first half of the film. As Beaulieu's stepfather is in the Air Force, she is living on a US base in Germany in 1959 when one of Elvis's army buddies invites her to a party at his house.
Opinions will vary as to whether Coppola should really have been so polite about this cancel-worthy affair, and Priscilla Presley's status as the film's executive producer may well have affected her judgement. But the unsteamy relationship is a fascinating departure from the usual cliché of a hedonistic celebrity with an innocent young girlfriend.
As the years slip by, and the excellent Brie Larson-alike Spaeny grows convincingly from lovesick schoolgirl to strong wife and mother, the film becomes a haunting dark fairy tale about a beautiful princess trapped in a castle by a controlling king, but, again, Coppola is more understated than that might suggest. Graceland is shown to be a relatively modest, tasteful home, and Elvis's various relatives and hangers-on are nothing if not friendly and welcoming.
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