The Beguiled

The Beguiled is a period drama written and directed by Sofia Coppola (The Bling Ring, Lost in Translation). It’s based on Thomas P. Cullinan’s novel of the same name, which also had an earlier film adaptation starring Clint Eastwood. Coppola’s version stars an impressive cast including Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, and Elle Fanning.

The story unfolds during the Civil War, at a Southern girls’ boarding school. Its sheltered young women take in an injured enemy soldier. As they provide refuge and tend to his wounds, the house is taken over with sexual tension and dangerous rivalries, and taboos are broken in an unexpected turn of events.

“The story is Southern Gothic,” Dunst says, “with things bubbling under until they get to a boiling point and then an explosion happens. It’s not horror, but it feels like there is horror in it, with intensity and destruction – all made more compelling because this is happening among women. When Sofia told me about the idea a couple of years ago, my impression was that she was drawn to the subject matter of so many women together alone.”

“I’ve always been interested in observing the dynamics of a group – especially females,” Coppola confirms. “I feel that the dynamics between women can be very under-the-surface and subtle whereas men are more overt.”

The Beguiled is rated 14A.