“Priscilla” came out on Oct. 27, 2023, just a little over a year after the release of the “Elvis” movie starring Austin Butler. However, this film should be considered separately from the wildly successful “Elvis” movie. Why? The answer is in the difference in the titles of the two films. Elvis’ side of the story has been told. This film is Priscilla’s story.
The movie was adapted from Priscilla’s 1985 book, “Elvis and Me.” Director Sophia Copolla brings the book detailing Priscilla’s story to life and gives new insight into Elvis and Priscilla’s relationship.
It is important to keep in mind that like any film that brings a celebrity’s story to life, this is just one depiction and interpretation. Just because it is on a big screen does not mean it is the whole and entire truth. So as I talk about the characters in this movie, note that I am talking about them as the characters are depicted and not necessarily the real people.
Priscilla was young when she met Elvis, like really young. She was only 14, while he was 24. She was a fan of Elvis before she ever got invited over to his house or met him. Just the idea of being in Elvis Presley’s house was thrilling for Priscilla—so imagine how much her thrill peaked when Elvis developed a fascination with her.
In youth, the things we are infatuated with tend to drive us in our thinking and feeling. A lot of times, all common sense is minute compared to the object of our fascination.
From the beginning of their relationship, we see several factors made known to the audience and Priscilla that are prominent issues seen throughout the movie and their entire relationship.
One example is that other women were a part of their relationship from the beginning.
When Priscilla goes into Elvis’s room for the first time, she observes a letter addressed to Elvis with a lipstick stain on it. This is something Priscilla will experience over and over in their relationship. In fact, this original scene is almost directly paralleled later in the film deep into their marriage, and it is the source of a huge fight between the two.
We also see this issue expressed early on when Elvis has to leave Priscilla behind in Germany and go back to America. Priscilla and Elvis exchange goodbyes in the car ride over to where they will depart from each other. Priscilla is heartbroken at his leaving but Elvis assures her he will not forget about her. When they arrive, a crowd of fans surrounds the car. As Elvis and Priscilla part ways, we see Priscilla physically fade into the crowd of fans like she is just another one of them.
This issue was also depicted by showing scenes of Priscilla back home flipping through a magazine of the latest woman Elvis was rumored to be with when he was away from home working on a project.
Another issue displayed from the beginning of the film and their relationship is their age gap.
In their very first encounter, upon finding out Priscilla is only in the ninth grade, Elvis says, “Well you’re just a baby.” He continues to call her baby consistently in this tone throughout the film. Priscilla’s youth is also conveyed through detailed shots of her belongings and her room. As we see nail polish, notes hung on Priscilla’s wall and dainty floral patterns, an instrumental version of Elvis’ song “Love Me Tender” plays. This version of the song sounds almost like a lullaby you would play to put a baby to sleep, further solidifying how Elvis treats Priscilla a bit like the name he calls her: a baby.
The extreme height difference between Elvis, played by Jacob Elordi, and Priscilla, played by Cailee Spaeney, is also a visual and constant reminder throughout the movie of their age gap.
Though the cause of Priscilla sweeping these issues under the rug, to begin with, was because of her youthful enamored nature towards Elvis, it evolved into something more sophisticated. Priscilla really did love him. It was more than a youthful crush on a heartthrob. And in loving him, she was patient in trying to love him in spite of his flaws.
Priscilla’s love for Elvis was unconditional.
However, Elvis’ love for Priscilla was conditional.
Throughout the film, we see Priscilla transformed by her relationship with Elvis. Part of this is due to him physically controlling her. In one scene, Elvis tells Priscilla she would look better with black hair and dark eye makeup and Priscilla abides. Priscilla does not even get to dress the way she wants because of Elvis. If Priscilla likes a dress and he does not think it suits her, she does not get to wear it. Even as everyone in the house scrambles to get things together to take Priscilla to the hospital once she goes into labor, Priscilla is in the quiet of her room, putting on her false lashes.
As she goes through these transformations she soon becomes nearly unrecognizable from the girl we met at the beginning of the film. Scenes of Priscilla looking in mirrors are placed throughout the film, showing her observing these changes in herself to emphasize her transformation.
Though she loved Elvis despite his flaws and conformed herself to what he wanted for a while, eventually she started to gain confidence in herself and an intolerance for his behavior.
Though it usually doesn’t end well when she does, she starts to stand up to Elvis. From there, she learns how to ride the waves of his mood swings. Priscilla becomes the more mature one of the two, despite Elvis’ seniority. She starts to gracefully put distance between them. In doing this, she begins to work on herself. Priscilla starts to find out who she is apart from Elvis. At a young age when most people start to grapple with and discover their identity, Priscilla found her identity in Elvis instead.
After all this growth, there is another scene of her looking in a mirror again but this time she smiles as tears almost fill her eyes because she is now comfortable in her own skin.
Finally, Priscilla realizes she needs to leave her husband. And for the first time, we see Priscilla have unconditional love for herself.
“Priscilla” is currently screening in theaters.
