Sofia Coppola's success at Cannes is now at the center of controversy for its omission of crucial black characters from the original source material. Coppola's films often portray a detached, dreamy world of women and THE BEGUILED continues in that vein. Phil calls it a mature film because of its painterly compositions but mostly because how Coppola crafts an ambiguous feminist narrative. By the film's inevitable conclusion, one might think this is a portrait of how vulnerable women triumph over a heartless, predatory man. But the shades of grey are what makes Coppola's vision so compelling. This discussion is particularly compelling.
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