New Film "Priscilla" Offers a Revealing Portrait of Elvis Presley through the Eyes of his Young Wife

Sofia Coppola's new movie "Priscilla", billed as a narrative about American royalty, details the life of Priscilla Presley, painting Elvis as an insecure and dominant figure while challenging the well-established Elvis mythology through an unflinching exploration of his relationship with his underage wife.

Sofia Coppola's 'Priscilla' explores the relationship between Elvis Presley and his young wife, Priscilla Presley. The film paints Elvis as an insecure and dominant figure, challenging the established Elvis mythology.
The movie presents Elvis's interactions with Priscilla from an oppressively physical perspective, often looming over Priscilla and heightening the sense of power imbalance between the two characters (New Republic).
Coppola's film illustrates how Elvis molds Priscilla into the woman he wants her to be - teaching her how to dress, act, and even show love. Priscilla’s Elvis is depicted as a insecure charmer with more charisma than talent, preferring the company of gun-carrying sycophants to anyone else (New Republic).
The film refrains from portraying Elvis Presley's more popular tribulations, such as the death of his mother Gladys and his exploitation at the hands of physicians and Colonel Tom Parker. Instead, it focuses on his increasing dependency on drugs, his fragile ego, and his rumored affairs (New Republic).
Sofia Coppola's portrayal of Priscilla focuses on the isolation imposed upon her by her husband, depicting her path to self-discovery, newfound confidence and determination in the face of her husband's whims and decisions. The movie doesn't feature any of Elvis's hits, allowing Coppola to present a less glorified side of the ‘King of Rock 'n’ Roll’ (The New Republic).