Sofia Coppola’s latest film takes a tasteful spin on the typical Southern melodrama, injecting some dark wit alongside total wardrobe goals (a la Marie Antoinette). As soon as Colin Farrell’s wounded Yankee soldier, Corporal John McBurney, is discovered by a young girl in the Virginian forest surrounding her boarding school, his presence in a house full of bored girls and women means that only chaos can ensue.
With incredible performances from Nicole Kidman (who's transformed so much over the years, we can't believe it) as headmistress Martha, Kirsten Dunst as Edwina the teacher, and Elle Fanning, Angourie Rice, Addison Riecke and Oona Laurence as their mischievous students, The Beguiled is a period piece with so much more to offer. Here are five reasons why it’s our favourite Coppola film yet.
1. It’s just so aesthetically pleasing
Except for the scene where Nicole Kidman tackles Colin Farrell’s gruesome wound... Blood and gore aside, the entire film manages to thrill with frilly silk dresses and a grand old Southern mansion (with lovely verandas wrapped around it, of course), cut with chilling scenes of mist creeping along the desolate landscape, ensuring it’s not all too sweet and silky.
2. The humour is deliciously dark
Whether it’s Kidman’s sharp retorts, or Fanning’s insouciant yet OTT seduction tactics (“I hope you like apple pie!”), the entire film is fraught with the type of comedy that often comes with witty, female-dominated casts. From innocent quips to remarks about death, and even rape (you’ll understand when you see it, we promise), the laughter flows.
3. It’s dramatic, but not over the top
Sure, you’ve got a spectacular fall down not one, but two flights of stairs, as well as a tremendous chandelier crash and a sex scene so passionate it’s in danger of crossing ‘abusive’ territory. But, these scenes are so tastefully and subtly done, they echo everything that Coppola is herself. This, on top of the niggling rumblings of cannons and gunfire nearby as the Civil War ensues, guarantees that you’ll be on the edge of your seat.
4. The cast is stellar
At a first glance, it seems as though Coppola is just leaning on her regular blondes (Fanning and Dunst) for the bulk of her cast. In The Beguiled, you can fully appreciate why she returns to them time and time again; they’re fantastic, and when joined by the likes of Kidman and three incredible little girls (Rice, Laurence and Riecke), they become a vivacious, multi-faceted team - and that's before Colin Farrell stumbles into their garden. As for the Corporal, he’s charming, a little flirtatious and tender towards the youngest girls, which makes his change in character even more alarming.
5. It’s short
We’re used to period pieces dragging on a bit, but the storyline of The Beguiled is succinct enough to spread across just 75 minutes. The slow shots across the mansion’s desolate acres and the close-ups of intricate hair braiding make it seem like it’s gone on for longer, rather than the whole plot feeling crammed in. Let’s just say that you’ll want it to keep going, but you won’t feel cheated from a pricey cinema ticket once the credits roll.
