The Beguiled (2017 film)
The Beguiled | |
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Directed by | Sofia Coppola |
Screenplay by | Sofia Coppola |
Based on | The Beguiled by Thomas P. Cullinan |
Produced by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | FR Productions |
Distributed by | Focus Features |
Release dates |
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Running time | 94 minutes[1] |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $10 million[2] |
Box office | $27.4 million[3] |
The Beguiled is a 2017 American
It premiered on May 24 at the
Plot
Martha Farnsworth runs a girls school in Virginia during the Civil War. By 1864, almost all of the students, teachers, and slaves have left. In addition to Farnsworth herself, only five students and one teacher, Edwina Morrow, remain. While out in the woods searching for mushrooms, Amy, a pupil, comes across John McBurney, a corporal in the Union Army who was wounded in the leg during battle, and has since deserted. Amy brings McBurney to the school where he falls unconscious. The women lock McBurney in one of the rooms while Miss Farnsworth tends to his wounds. All the women and girls in the school are immediately fascinated by the handsome man.
Initially, some of the school's residents want McBurney to be delivered as a
When Miss Farnsworth indicates that McBurney is healthy enough and will have to leave the school in a few days, he tries to convince her to let him stay as a gardener, and tells Miss Morrow that he has fallen in love with her. One night, he tells Miss Morrow to await him in her room. When he does not appear and she hears strange noises, she investigates and finds him in bed with Alicia, a teenage pupil. McBurney tries to calm the angry Miss Morrow down, but she pushes him away, causing him to fall down the stairs, badly breaking his already injured leg and fall unconscious. Miss Farnsworth decides that the only way to save his life is to amputate the leg.
When he awakes the next day and realizes he has lost his leg, McBurney is devastated and furious, accusing Miss Morrow and Miss Farnsworth of having punished him for going to Alicia's room instead of theirs. He is locked inside the music room, but threatens Alicia into giving him the key. He then breaks out, steals a gun, and loudly threatens the women before storming off. When Miss Farnsworth sends Amy to the gate to signal McBurney's presence to Confederate troops, he spots her and pursues her at gunpoint to a shed, where Miss Farnsworth rescues her by talking him down.
After McBurney storms out, Miss Farnsworth and the students try to find a solution to the issue. Miss Morrow follows McBurney to his room, where she initiates sex. Meanwhile, Marie suggests killing McBurney by preparing him a dinner containing poisonous mushrooms, to which Miss Farnsworth agrees. During the dinner, Miss Morrow, unaware of the plan, is deterred by the others at the last minute from putting the mushrooms on her own plate, but McBurney's suspicions are not aroused. Promptly after eating the mushrooms, he falls to the floor dead.
While the students sew McBurney's body into a shroud, Miss Morrow looks on, devastated. The women dragging McBurney's body to the road and attach the signal to the gate so that he will be found by the next Confederate soldiers who pass by.
Cast
- Colin Farrell as Corporal John McBurney
- Nicole Kidman as Miss Martha Farnsworth
- Kirsten Dunst as Miss Edwina Morrow
- Elle Fanning as Alicia
- Oona Laurence as Amy
- Angourie Rice as Jane
- Addison Rieckeas Marie
- Emma Howard as Emily
- Wayne Pere as The Captain
- Matt Story as Confederate Soldier
- Joel Albin as Cavalry Man
Production
The film is based on the 1966 book of the same name by author Thomas P. Cullinan about a wounded Union soldier in a Mississippi seminary during the American Civil War,[8] and was made for under $10 million.[9] The film exhibited elements of the thriller genre, a departure for Coppola.[8]
Coppola had initially expressed an aversion to a remake, but after watching the 1971 version at the urging of production designer Anne Ross, she was left contemplating ways she could update the film.[10] Specifically, she became interested in showing the story from the women's point of view, as opposed to the man's.[11] The material came to Coppola at a time when she wanted to make a more optimistic film than 2013's The Bling Ring, stating that she wanted to "cleanse myself" from what she terms was "such a tacky, ugly world".[10] Coppola cited her fascination with the South as part of the story's attraction. Coppola has said that she "wanted the film to represent an exaggerated version of all the ways women were traditionally raised there just to be lovely and cater to men—the manners of that whole world, and how they change when the men go away". Coppola has cited Gone with the Wind as her inspiration for creating a film that was relatable despite its position within a different era.[8]
In March 2016, it was announced that
Principal photography began on October 31, 2016, and concluded on December 7, 2016.[17][18] Exterior scenes were shot on the grounds of the Madewood Plantation House, near Napoleonville, Louisiana.[19] Interiors were filmed in actress Jennifer Coolidge's house in New Orleans.[20]
Release
The film had its world premiere at the
Reception
Box office
The Beguiled grossed $10.6 million in the United States and Canada and $16.1 million in other territories for a total of $26.7 million.[3]
In the film's limited opening weekend, it made $240,545 from four theaters (a per-theater gross of $60,136), finishing 20th at the box office.[24] In its wide opening, it made $3.2 million from 674 theaters (an average of $4,694), finishing 8th at the box office.[25]
Critical response
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 78% based on 330 reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "The Beguiled adds just enough extra depth to its source material to set itself apart, and director Sofia Coppola's restrained touch is enlivened by strong performances from the cast."[26] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 77 out of 100, based on 45 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[27]
David Ehrlich of IndieWire gave the film an "A−", saying, "Coppola's film is told with surgical precision and savage grace."[28] Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter stated: "Other than to place slightly more emphasis on the female empowerment angle ... it's hard to detect a strong raison d'etre behind Sofia Coppola's slow-to-develop melodrama."[29]
The film faced a wave of controversy and division, including accusations of 'whitewashing' the original story after Coppola chose to both remove the supporting role of a black female slave from the film, as well as to choose Kirsten Dunst to portray a character who was biracial in the original novel. Coppola also faced criticism for minimizing the story of the people experiencing actual hardship in favor of depicting, albeit authentically, the lavish lifestyle of her protagonists, thus minimizing the importance of a weighty topic,[8][30] which was not the first time one of Coppola's films was said to expose the sociocultural affordances of her own childhood.[8] Coppola responded to these allegations by stating that she made the changes so as "not [to] brush over such an important topic in a light way," and that "[y]oung girls watch my films and this was not the depiction of an African American character I would want to show them."[30] She furthermore cited the presence of young girls among her moviegoing audience,[8] and described her version of the film as a reinterpretation, rather than a remake, of Don Siegel's 1971 adaption of the same book.[8] Coppola wanted to tell the story of the male soldier entering into a classically southern and female environment from the point of view of the women in order to represent that experience.[8][31] Coppola thought that the earlier version made the characters out to be unrealistic caricatures, which did not allow the viewer to connect with them.[8]
While some critics stated that Coppola intended The Beguiled as a feminist work, Coppola has explained that she was not in favor of that labeling. Though she has said she is happy if others see the film in this way, she sees it as a film, rather, that possesses a female perspective—an important distinction. The Beguiled was also made as a contrast to The Bling Ring, and Coppola has explained the need to correct that film's harsh Los Angeles aesthetic with something more beautiful and poetic.[8]
Accolades
Award | Date | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Austin Film Critics Association | 2018 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Sofia Coppola | Nominated | [32] |
Awards Circuit Community Awards | 2017 | Best Costume Design | Stacey Battat | Nominated | |
Cannes Film Festival | 2017 | Best Director | Sofia Coppola | Won | [7] |
Palme d'Or | Nominated | ||||
CineLibri International Book and Movie Festival | 2017 | Grand Prize for the Best Literary Adaptation | Nominated | ||
Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards | 2017 | Best Cinematography | Philippe Le Sourd | Nominated | [33] |
International Online Cinema Awards
(Halfway Award) |
2018 | Best Director | Sofia Coppola | Won | [34][35] |
Best Actress | Nicole Kidman | Nominated | |||
Best Adapted Screenplay | Sofia Coppola | Won | |||
Best Ensemble Performance | Addison Riecke, Emma Howard, Wayne Pére , Matt Story
|
Won | |||
Best Cinematography | Philippe Le Sourd | Nominated | |||
Best Original Score | Laura Karpman and Phoenix | Nominated | |||
Best Costume Design | Stacey Battat | Runner-up | |||
Best Production Design | Anne Ross | Nominated | |||
Jerusalem Film Festival | 2017 | Best International Film | The Beguiled | Nominated | [36] |
London Critics Circle Film Awards | 2018 | British/Irish Actor of the Year | Colin Farrell | Nominated | [37] |
Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society Awards
|
2017 | Best Female Director | Sofia Coppola | Nominated | [38] |
Munich Film Festival | 2017 | Best International Film | The Beguiled | Nominated | [36] |
Phoenix Critics Circle | 2017 | Best Mystery or Thriller Film | Nominated | [39] | |
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards
|
2017 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Sofia Coppola | Nominated | [40] |
Best Costume Design | Stacey Battat | Nominated | |||
Best Production Design | Anne Ross | Nominated | |||
Satellite Awards | 2018 | Best Costume Design | Stacey Battat | Nominated | [41] |
Zagreb Film Festival | 2017 | Best Film | The Beguiled | Nominated | [42] |
See also
References
- ^ a b "2017 Screenings Guide" (PDF). Cannes Film Festival. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- Penske Business Media. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
- ^ a b "The Beguiled". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
- ^ a b Orlova-Alvarez, Tamara; Alvarez, Joe (May 25, 2017). "Nicole Kidman at The Beguiled World Premiere in Cannes". Ikon London Magazine. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
- ^ "The 2017 Official Selection". Cannes Film Festival. April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- Penske Business Media. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- ^ Penske Business Media. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Lodge, Guy (July 2, 2017). "Sofia Coppola: 'I never felt I had to fit into the majority view'". The Guardian. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
- ^ Kohn, Eric (November 27, 2017). "Sofia Coppola: How She Survived 'The Beguiled' Backlash, Why She Won't Do TV, and Why Her Dad is 'Over' Film". IndieWire. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
- ^ a b Sollosi, Mary (June 16, 2017). "The Beguiled: Sofia Coppola on how she made the remake her own". Entertainment Weekly. Time. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
- ^ Lopez, Kristen (May 19, 2017). "In Conversation with Sofia Coppola". Film School Rejects. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (March 29, 2016). "Sofia Coppola to Write, Direct Remake of Clint Eastwood Drama 'The Beguiled'". Variety. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (July 14, 2016). "Colin Farrell In Talks to Star in Sofia Coppola's 'Beguiled' Remake (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
- Penske Business Media. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
- ^ soundtrackmania (June 30, 2017). "The Beguiled Soundtrack". Soundtrack Mania. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
- ^ a b Moore, Booth (June 15, 2017). "The Story Behind the Sweet (and Sinister) Costumes in Sofia Coppola's 'The Beguiled'". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
- ^ Fanning, Elle [@ellefanning] (October 31, 2016). "#thebeguiledmovie began filming today... Happy Halloween!". Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2016 – via Instagram.
- Penske Business Media. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
- ^ Halberg, Morgan (June 29, 2017). "'The Beguiled' House Is Actually a Charming Bed and Breakfast". The New York Observer. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
- ^ Buchanan, Kyle (June 14, 2017). "How Sofia Coppola Reclaimed The Beguiled for Women (and Gay Men)". Vulture. New York Media. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
- ^ Orlova-Alvarez, Tamara; Alvarez, Joe (May 29, 2017). "All the Awards at the 70th Cannes Film Festival". Ikon London Magazine. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
- Penske Business Media. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
- ^ Kay, Jermey (November 2, 2016). "Focus to release 'The Beguiled' in June 2017". Screen Daily. Screen International. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
- Penske Business Media. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- Penske Business Media. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- ^ "The Beguiled (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
- Penske Business Media. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- ^ McCarthy, Todd (May 24, 2017). "'The Beguiled': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- ^ a b
- Lodge, Guy (July 2, 2017). "Sofia Coppola: 'I never felt I had to fit into the majority view'". Guardian News and Media. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- Rao, Sonia (June 22, 2017). "Sofia Coppola's 'The Beguiled' criticized for leaving out a slave narrative from the Confederate South". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- Brody, Richard (June 23, 2017). "'The Beguiled': Sofia Coppola's Dubiously Abstract Vision of the Civil War". The New Yorker. Condé Nast. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- Atad, Corey (June 20, 2017). "Lost in Adaptation". Slate. The Slate Group. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
- Madison III, Ira (June 24, 2017). "Sofia Coppola's 'The Beguiled' Controversy and What We Expect From White Directors". The Daily Beast. The Daily Beast Company. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- Kang, Inkoo (June 20, 2017). "Lost In Translation Is An Insufferable, Racist Mess — Why Would We Expect The Beguiled To Be Any Different?". MTV News. MTV. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- Monagle, Matthew (June 23, 2017). "On Sofia Coppola and the Whitewashing Controversy of 'The Beguiled'". Film School Rejects. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- Rose, Steve (July 10, 2017). "The Beguiled: how Hollywood is whitewashing the US civil war". Guardian News and Media. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
- Lodge, Guy (July 2, 2017). "Sofia Coppola: 'I never felt I had to fit into the majority view'".
- ^ "Revisited: Sofia Coppola". Interview. October 26, 2017. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
- ^ "2017 Austin Film Award Nominees". Austin Film Critics. December 18, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ^ "The best in film 2017, according to the Dublin Film Critics Circle". The Irish Times. December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ^ "'The Beguiled' to screen at Balcon Heliopolis". EgyptToday. October 16, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ^ Laws, Zach (January 11, 2018). "Stacey Battat ('The Beguiled' costume designer): Civil War film had 'limitation of historical accuracy' [EXCLUSIVE VIDEO INTERVIEW]". GoldDerby. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ^ a b "The Beguiled - Awards & Festivals". Mubi. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ^ Cline, Rich (December 19, 2017). "Three Billboards leads nominees for Critics' Circle Film Awards". The Critics' Circle. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ^ Evangelista, Chris (December 4, 2017). "2017 Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society Nominations Announced". /Film. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ^ "2017 Awards". Phoenix Critics Circle. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ^ "2017 San Diego Film Critics Society's Award Nominations". San Diego Film Critics Society. December 9, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- Press Academy. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- Screen Daily. Retrieved December 16, 2023.