The Beguiled (2017)
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During the American Civil War, a group of women at a girls' school become obsessed with a wounded Union soldier who has deserted his post.
The story
In 1864 Virginia, Martha Farnsworth runs a girls' school where most residents have fled due to the American Civil War. Only five students and one teacher remain. The situation changes when the youngest student, Amy, discovers John McBurney, a wounded Union corporal who has deserted his post. Farnsworth takes him in to tend to his injuries, and the women and girls at the school become fascinated by the handsome man. While some residents want him turned over as a prisoner of war, Farnsworth decides to let him heal first. As he recovers, the women subtly vie for his affection, creating a tense atmosphere of devotion and secrecy.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Martha Farnsworth runs a girls' school in Virginia during the American Civil War. In 1864, only five students and one teacher remain. Amy, the youngest student, finds John McBurney, a wounded Union corporal who deserted his post. Farnsworth treats his wounds, and the women at the school become obsessed with him. While some want him captured, Farnsworth keeps him hidden. The women compete for his favor with gifts and dinners. When McBurney tries to stay as a gardener, Farnsworth refuses. McBurney claims to love the teacher, Edwina, but is found in bed with Alicia, the rebellious eldest pupil. After a struggle, McBurney falls down the stairs and fractures his leg. Farnsworth decides to amputate it to save his life. Devastated and furious, McBurney is locked in the music room but escapes, steals a gun, and threatens the women. After a tense standoff where Farnsworth talks him down, the women decide to kill him by poisoning his dinner with mushrooms. While Edwina initiates sex with him in his room, McBurney eats the mushrooms and dies. The women then drag his body to the road to be found by Confederate soldiers.
- First release year
- 2017
- Runtime (minutes)
- 94
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Sofia Coppola
- Writers
- Sofia Coppola · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Colin Farrell; Nicole Kidman; Kirsten Dunst; Elle Fanning
- Genres
- thriller; Southern Gothic; historical drama
- Themes
- female perspective; obsession; tradition vs. change
- Tone and mood
- restrained; poetic; savage
- Premise and plot tags
- remake; historical; Southern Gothic; thriller
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1966 novel by Thomas P. Cullinan
- Content notes
- poisoning
- Reception
- The film received generally favorable reviews, with critics praising the performances and Coppola's restrained direction, though some noted its slow development.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 79% · review count: 326; Metacritic · score: 77 · scale: 100 · review count: 45
- Production trivia
- The music was composed by the rock band Phoenix.; The film was made for under $10 million.; Coppola was inspired by the 1939 film Gone with the Wind.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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