In this episode of the Fully-Booked podcast, hosts Meaghan and Shirin discuss Sofia Coppola’s 2023 film adaptation of Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir, Elvis and Me. The hosts explain that while they are in the middle of a dystopian fiction month on their podcast, they decided to release this previously recorded discussion about Priscilla as a special episode.
Note
The following is an editorialized transcript of our weekly literary podcast. If you would like to listen to the podcast, click the play button above orlisten on your favorite platform with the links below.
Background and Production
We learn that Sofia Coppola approached Priscilla Presley in 2022 about adapting her memoir into a film. Coppola had been fascinated by the book for years and wanted to explore Priscilla’s perspective on her relationship with Elvis Presley.
The production faced challenges, including pushback from Elvis’s estate, which was primarily managed by Lisa Marie Presley at the time. Due to these issues, the film was unable to secure the right to use Elvis’s songs and instead relied on music from the time period.
We compare Priscilla to Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 Elvis biopic (it’s difficult not to), noting that the latter focused more on Elvis’s relationship with his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, while somewhat glossing over the more serious aspects of Elvis’s life and relationships.
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Casting and Performances
The hosts praise the casting choices for the film:
- Cailee Spaeny as Priscilla Presley: We commend her performance, noting her ability to portray Priscilla from a young teenager to almost 30 years old. We were also are impressed by the evolution and development of her character throughout the film.
- Jacob Elordi as Elvis Presley: We discuss how Elordi’s portrayal differs from Austin Butler’s in the Baz Luhrmann film. We appreciate that Elordi’s performance is more toned down, focusing on Elvis’s charm and allure rather than his stage presence. We also note how Elordi’s height (6’4″) adds to the sense of intimidation and authority Elvis exerts over Priscilla.
We also emphasize that while Elordi does a great job, he doesn’t steal the show, allowing the focus to remain on Priscilla’s story and perspective.
Themes and Artistic Choices
We then discuss several key themes and artistic choices in the film:
- Female Perspective: We praise Sofia Coppola’s direction, noting how the film effectively portrays Priscilla’s emotions and experiences. We mention the use of soft focus and feminine styling to emphasize Priscilla’s perspective.
- Power Dynamics and Control: We explore how the film depicts Elvis’s increasing control over Priscilla, from dictating her appearance (clothes, hair color, makeup) to controlling their sexual relationship. We went on to discuss how Elvis kept Priscilla “on the hook” by refusing to have sex with her before marriage and later controlling when and how they were intimate.
- Age Difference and Grooming: We expressed our shock at the age difference between Elvis (24) and Priscilla (14) when they met. We discuss how the film portrays the impact of this relationship on Priscilla’s development and her inability to relate to peers her own age.
- Parental Involvement: We go on to note that the film gives grace to Priscilla’s parents, showing their struggle to navigate the situation and their realization that they couldn’t prevent the relationship from progressing.
- Slow Decline of the Relationship: Unlike the dramatic portrayal in the Baz Luhrmann film, Priscilla shows the relationship’s end as a gradual process, culminating in Priscilla’s decision to leave Elvis.
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Comparison to Other Works
We briefly compare Priscilla to other recent works that explore relationships between young people and authority figures, including:
- “Miller’s Girl” on Netflix
- “Pretty Little Liars” TV series
- “Maxton Hall” on Prime Video
- Various adaptations of “Lolita”
We express neverending concern about the romanticization of these types of relationships in media and how it can normalize problematic dynamics.
Reception and Impact
We discuss how Priscilla has been somewhat overshadowed by Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic and hasn’t received as much attention. Lisa Marie Presley reportedly felt the film portrayed her father solely as a predator, though the hosts disagree with this assessment, arguing that the film shows the complexity of the situation.
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Our appreciation continues for the film’s nuanced portrayal of Elvis, showing both his vulnerabilities and his flaws. We emphasize the importance of recognizing that public figures are complex individuals with both positive and negative aspects to their personalities and behaviors.
Final Thoughts
We conclude our thoughts on the film by recommending Priscilla to their listeners, praising it as an excellently made film that offers a unique perspective on a well-known story. We can only hope that in the future, more people will revisit the film and use it as a way to understand the complexities of public figures and celebrity relationships.
We also reflect on the overall sadness of the Presley family story, including the recent death of Lisa Marie Presley. We need to emphasize the importance of not idolizing celebrities and recognizing that we only see what public figures choose to show us.
Finally, we invite listeners to share their thoughts on the film, Priscilla Presley’s memoir, or related topics in the comments section of their podcast.
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