Priscilla(2023)

Plot Summary

• In January 1960, 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu was living with her family in Bad Nauheim, West Germany, where her father was stationed with the U.S. military. Around this time, Elvis Presley, a 24-year-old global sensation, was completing his military service in Germany, having been drafted at the height of his fame in 1958. The two met at a party on the military base, where Elvis quickly showed interest in Priscilla. Despite her parents' concerns about their significant age difference and his celebrity lifestyle, the pair began casually dating. When Elvis returned to the United States in March 1960, Priscilla was left heartbroken as their contact faded.In June 1962, Elvis reconnected with Priscilla and invited her to visit him in Memphis, Tennessee. During her stay, they took a trip to Las Vegas, with Elvis prey-writing postcards for her parents to be mailed by his assistant to maintain their trust. After enjoying their time together, Priscilla returned to Germany. The following year, Elvis professed his love for her and asked her parents if she could live in Memphis under the care of his father, Vernon, and stepmother, Dee, while attending a private Catholic school. Hesitant but persuaded by Elvis's promises, her parents agreed, and Priscilla moved to Memphis to complete her senior year.Living at Graceland, Priscilla enjoyed spending time with Elvis but often felt lonely during his extended absences while filming in Los Angeles. She grew close to his paternal grandmother, Dodger, and the household staff but struggled with rumors of Elvis's alleged infidelity, particularly with his "Viva Las Vegas" co-star Ann-Margret. When confronted, Elvis dismissed the rumors as publicity stunts. Priscilla stayed at Graceland, and their relationship continued, with Elvis proposing to her in 1966.Despite moments of affection, Priscilla saw signs of Elvis's volatile temper, which was often followed by remorse. Their relationship was complicated by his resistance to physical intimacy, citing her youth, though he allowed certain other forms of closeness. In May 1967, the couple married in a Las Vegas ceremony. Priscilla soon became pregnant, which delighted Elvis but left her concerned about how quickly their lives were changing. She expressed a desire to travel and enjoy their time together before parenthood, but Elvis reassured her they would have time later.In February 1968, Priscilla gave birth to their daughter, Lisa Marie, as Elvis prepared for his iconic NBC comeback special. However, their marriage faced growing strain due to Elvis's frequent absences, prescription drug use, and infidelities. As they drifted apart, Priscilla sought greater independence. By 1973, the couple had separated, though she occasionally visited him. During one such visit to his hotel room after a performance, she found him in a haze of drug use. Elvis attempted to rekindle their intimacy, but his behavior felt uncharacteristic and alienating. When Priscilla informed him of her plans to divorce, Elvis asked if she was leaving him for someone else, but she explained her need to build her own life.Before finalizing their divorce, Priscilla returned to Graceland one last time to bid farewell to the housekeepers and Elvis's grandmother. As she drove away from the estate, fans gathered outside the gates, marking the end of her chapter as Elvis's wife.

Storyline

• When teenage Priscilla Beaulieu meets Elvis Presley at a party, the man who is already a meteoric rock-and-roll superstar becomes someone entirely unexpected in private moments: a thrilling crush, an ally in loneliness, a vulnerable best friend. Through Priscilla's eyes, Sofia Coppola tells the unseen side of a great American myth in Elvis and Priscilla's long courtship and turbulent marriage, from a German army base to his dream-world estate at Graceland, in this deeply felt and ravishingly detailed portrait of love, fantasy, and fame. — A24 Bad Nauheim, Germany, 1959. Experiencing a sense of isolation and ennui, a 14-year-old Priscilla Presley encounters an individual with ties to Elvis Presley , who promptly arranges for her to meet the music icon. Impressed by her, Elvis fervently pursues Priscilla, but his career interferes with their budding connection. They reunite in 1962, with Elvis using his charisma to gain her parents' approval. Captivated by his passion, Priscilla relocates to Graceland, a mansion in Memphis, where they establish a life together. However, jealousy blemishes their coexistence as Elvis engages in film projects in California, often surrounded by admiring actresses. As time progresses, a darker undertone veils their tempestuous relationship. — Nick Riganas