The unseen side of a great American myth in Priscilla Presley’s turbulent relationship with Elvis. A film by Sofia Coppola, starring Cailee Spaeny & Jacob Elordi.

In 1959, while doing her homework in the Eagle Club dining facility at US Air Force Base in West Germany, ninth-grader Priscilla Beaulieu (Cailee Spaeny) is approached by a military officer named Terry West (Luke Humphrey). He notices her frequent presence and, striking up conversation, learns that her family recently relocated from Texas.

Terry mentions his acquaintance with the famous Elvis Presley and extends an invitation. He asks if Priscilla would like to join him and his wife for a weekend party at Elvis’s house, assuring her that Elvis always welcomes folks from his home state. Priscilla politely replies that she has to ask her parents first.

Priscilla’s heart sinks when her stepfather Paul (Ari Cohen) and mother Ann (Dagmara Dominczyk) refuse to let her attend the party at Elvis’s house with strangers.

The next day, while the family dines at the Eagle Club, Terry approaches and introduces himself to Paul. He assures Paul and Ann that he and his wife will chaperone Priscilla throughout the evening at Elvis’s, ensuring her safety. Hesitantly but eventually, Priscilla’s parents grant their permission.

Amidst the buzzing party in Elvis’s rented Bad Nauheim house, 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu finds herself face-to-face with the legendary 24-year-old Elvis Presley (Jacob Elordi), his military stint momentarily interrupting his meteoric rise to fame. Though a touch surprised at Priscilla’s ninth-grade status, Elvis takes an instant shine to her. Their initial meeting, though brief, leaves a lasting impression on Priscilla.

Priscilla receives a surprise call from Terry, who’s been tasked by Elvis to invite her to his house again next Friday. Although she fears her parents won’t allow it, Terry somehow persuades them to let her go. This time, Elvis’s interest in Priscilla is undeniable. As they converse in private, Elvis lets down his guard and reveals his vulnerability, grieving for the recent loss of his mother. Their first kiss crackles with unspoken emotions.

Despite her parents’ concerns about the age difference and Elvis’s celebrity status, they begin dating casually. Their nascent relationship faces its first hurdle when Elvis returns to the States in March 1960, leaving Priscilla with a bittersweet ache. Her mother suggests that she should forget about him.

In 1962, Priscilla receives a call from Elvis, expressing his deepest longing for her and to ask if she would be interested in visiting his Memphis estate, Graceland. Although Priscilla warns him that her parents would never allow her to go there, Elvis reassures her that he will take care of everything. A first-class plane ticket and a temporary guardianship document signed by Vernon Presley, Elvis’s father, arrive at her house in Germany.

Priscilla meets Elvis, his grandmother, and his friends at his estate. The two go on a lavish Las Vegas vacation. Priscilla wishes she could stay with Elvis and refuses to leave him when it’s time to return to Germany. However, Elvis convinces her that returning home is necessary to avoid complications in their future relationship.

In 1963, Elvis persuades Priscilla’s parents to let her move in with him and his family at Graceland, and complete her education in a catholic school in Memphis. The couple gets married in May 1967.

Written and directed by American filmmaker Sofia Coppola, based on the 1985 memoir Elvis and Me by Priscilla Beaulieu Presley and Sandra Harmon, which Priscilla recounts her meeting with Elvis Presley, their subsequent marriage, and the factors that ultimately led to their divorce.

“Priscilla” is a visual feast, each shot meticulously composed. It tells the untold story of Elvis Presley, one of the most influential and iconic figures in music history, through the eyes of his one-time love, Priscilla.

Cailee Spaeny delivers a phenomenal performance, seamlessly transforming from a wide-eyed 14-year-old into a poised and self-assured woman by the film’s end.

Jacob Elordi smolders as Elvis, capturing a captivating blend of soft-spoken charm and unnerving intensity that flickers just beneath the surface.

Priscilla takes us on a dazzling journey, but some of the soundtrack choices might have you doing a double take. For instance, Tommy James & The Shondells’ Crimson and Clover blasts in the scene where Priscilla meets Elvis in 1959, but the song wasn’t released until nearly a decade later.

Similarly, The Righteous Brothers’ For Sentimental Reasons sets the mood for Christmas scene, but their version of the song wasn’t even recorded until 1964. These anachronistic blips might raise an eyebrow for music history buffs, but they don’t detract from the film’s overall charm and emotional impact.

The film is not without flaws. Some crucial information is omitted, either due to the film’s time constraints or for artistic purposes. For example, while Elvis originally intended to join the Special Services, he was furious when he was drafted as a regular soldier. This was because his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, did not want the government to gain exclusive rights to Elvis’s performance recordings at armed forces bases and profit from them.

As part of their arrangement, Priscilla was required to write daily letters to her parents during her stay with Elvis. In advance of their Vegas trip, she prepared letters and postcards. Elvis, ensuring the illusion of her presence in Los Angeles, had these mailed from there to her parents in Germany each day, as outlined in her trip itinerary.

Priscilla premiered at Biennale di Venezia on 4 September 2023, where Cailee Spaeny won Volpi Cup for Best Actress. (Coppa Volpi per la migliore interpretazione femminile).

The film received a limited theatrical release in the United States on 27 October, before expanding nationwide on 3 November, by A24.