Review of The Beguiled (2017) by Ricky D — 15 Jul 2017

Having never seen the 1971 adaptation of Thomas Cullinan's The Beguiled, I can't speak to how faithful it is to the source material, but I can safely say that this is my favorite Sophia Coppola film so far.

Near a secluded girls academy in the south, one of the students finds a wounded union soldier played by Colin Farrell. The academy, headed by Nicole Kidman, is nearly deserted except for five students, Kidman, and Kirsten Dunst.

The presence of this enemy soldier at first disturbs their daily activities, but as Farrell begins to relate to each in their respective ways, they begin to project their hopes and fears onto him. Central to the characters' interactions is wondering who is being beguiled by whom.

Dunst wants to escape, Kidman wants stability, and Elle Fanning just wants a gentleman caller to break up the boredom. The large country estate lends the story a dreamy atmosphere, surrounded by mossy trees perforated by the magic hour sun's rays.

Despite the action diffusing nearly instantaneously with its inception, the film never seems to lose momentum. The gravity of the characters' relationships carry the plot along until a climactic final act that seems a bit rushed and, whether intentional or not, funny.

The Beguiled has its problems, but it joins the ranks of several of this year's best period pieces like My Cousin Rachel, A Quiet Passion, The Lost City of Z, and Their Finest.