The Beguiled: Power, Desire, and Isolation

The Beguiled (2017) reimagines the Civil War-era drama of a wounded Union soldier (Colin Farrell) who finds refuge in an all-girls boarding school, led by Miss Martha (Nicole Kidman). As tensions rise, desire and betrayal spiral into deadly consequences.

Visually, Coppola leaned into moody, atmospheric Southern Gothic aesthetics — drawing inspiration from period paintings, sun-drenched forests, and the haunting stillness of abandoned estates. Costume design, rich in muted pastels and delicate lace, contrasts with the escalating psychological warfare between the women.

The film critiques the male gaze, flipping the power dynamics traditionally seen in similar narratives. In a modern context, it mirrors conversations about female autonomy and the subtle, powerful ways women reclaim control — even in environments built to suppress them.