“Priscilla”, the film that portrays the loneliness of Elvis’s wife: we talk to its protagonist

It is no coincidence that three women from three different generations are behind this film: Priscilla Presley (78), as the figure portrayed; Sofia Coppola (52), the filmmaker in charge of narrating the story; and Cailee Spaeny (25), the young protagonist of this biopic who, instead of taking the ‘logical’ path and putting the spotlight on Elvis Presley, deals rather with the troubled and complex life of the King of Rock’s wife.

And if we say that this crossing of ages in “Priscilla” is not random, it is because the cinema of Sofia Coppola (“Lost in Tokyo”, “Marie Antoinette”) often pays attention to it: in the passage of time, the loss of innocence, forced maturity. Like in this film, in which we see a little girl growing up rapidly, overwhelmed by fame but ultimately suffocated by a harsh loneliness.

“I discovered Sofia Coppola’s work when I was about 15 years old and saw ‘The Virgin Suicides’,” says Spaeny, the actress of “Priscilla,” in conversation with El Comercio. I was very impressed by the way she portrays women full of complexities, needs, and dark sides. But “without ever underestimating them, letting them develop all their humanity.”.

Spaeny does a remarkable job portraying Priscilla Presley in the film. In fact, her performance allowed her to win the best actress award at the Venice Film Festival last year, and profiles her as a serious candidate for the Oscars.

Coppola’s film adapts Priscilla’s memoir, “Elvis and I” (1985), in which she narrates the details of her relationship with the musician, from the moment she, at just 14 years old, meets him at a military base in Berlinwhen he was 24 and already a recognized star.

IN HIS SHOES

To round out the character, Spaeny used constant conversations with Coppola and Priscilla herself. “I think Sofía is a master at addressing emotions as universal as loneliness. It’s hard for me to think of a filmmaker who does it better than her. Furthermore, the conversations I had with Priscilla were very moving, as was everything she conveys in her book,” says the actress.

The link with the actor who plays Elvis, the Australian Jacob Elordi, was also key. “We always wanted a true connection between us to be seen on screen. That’s why I wanted us to get closer, and he was very open: we went out together, we went to the movies, we went horseback riding. And we always exchange opinions and notes. “Jacob is a very generous actor,” adds Spaeny.

Furthermore, embodying Priscilla Presley at different stages of her life was a challenge that Spaeny dealt with through demanding preparation. “Making the age range feel authentic was one of the most difficult challenges,” he says. Looking 14 years old at one moment, or feeling like a mother at another, and that nothing is forced. And it was complicated because we filmed everything in just 30 days, and in a very disorganized way. We recorded the last take of the movie on day 2. So the only thing that kept me connected was the makeup, hair and costumes. These are always important details in a film, but in this one it was much more important than in any other project. Depending on the dress I was wearing, I moved differently, and I was trying to imagine Priscilla’s emotional journey.”

A film that, despite everything, has not been free of controversy. Like when Lisa Marie Presley – the daughter of Elvis and Priscilla – said shortly before her death, in January of last year, that her father had been portrayed as “a predator and manipulator” in Coppola’s film.

“As an actress, or in any role, one has to deal with various judgments,” Spaeny responds to criticism. But this is a story based on Priscilla’s book and the conversations we had with her. It is a film that tries to tell a truth. “The public will have to draw their own conclusions.”