A year after Elvis was released, Sofia Coppola highlights a new perspective of the Presleys’ tumultuous marriage in Priscilla. Coppola encapsulates the spirit of a young woman dazzled by a gilded world in a collection of simple, yet effective shots.

The movie is based on Priscilla Presley’s 1985 memoir Elvis and Me and provides viewers with a glimpse of life inside Graceland through the eyes of a 14-year-old girl.

After being invited to a party at Elvis’s house, Priscilla is sucked into a world of fame and maturity. Coppola gracefully unfolds the innerworkings of Priscilla and Elvis’s relationship, one that is taut with power dynamics and manipulation. Still a child, Pricilla is blinded by Elvis’s glittering charisma and enigmatic lifestyle. Despite her parents’ warnings and Elvis’s inconsistency, Priscilla eventually marries the rock ’n’ roll star, fully immersing herself in a dark and dangerous world.

As Priscilla and Elvis’s relationship progresses, Elvis increasingly restricts Priscilla’s choices, from her hair color to her clothing. As viewers, we see how both Priscilla and Elvis reflect the common beliefs of their time. Priscilla attempts to shape herself into the perfect wife for Elvis, ignoring his infidelity and frequent absences, while Elvis pressures Priscilla to be his submissive, uncomplaining homemaker.

At first, Pricilla abides by Elvis’s rules, hiding her unhappiness with hopes that Elvis will once again provide her with the attention and love he showed her when they first met. Surrounded by strangers and isolated from companions her own age, Priscilla struggles with the loneliness that accompanies her seemingly beautiful life.

Coppola shows us how Priscilla’s youth allowed Elvis to manipulate her into acting the way he wanted her to. Gradually, Priscilla embraces her individuality, relying less and less on Elvis, finding satisfaction within new friendships and interests.

While Elvis melts into drugs and alcohol, Priscilla flourishes in her newfound freedom and eventually files for divorce. When she drives through the gates of Graceland for the last time, Priscilla embraces a scary, yet exciting journey of becoming her own woman.

Personally, I enjoyed the inconclusive ending. Coppola captured the fear that follows a woman’s journey venturing into the unknown, especially after following someone else’s structure for much of their life. Priscilla was a wonderful reflection of losing yourself in another person and eventually fighting to figure out who you are on your own.