📽 AT THE MOVIES-

The glitz and the glam take a backseat in Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla, which doesn’t sugarcoat Elvis’ treatment of his former wife. Instead, the movie focuses on the development of their relationship starting when she was just a Junior in high school.

A portrait of isolation: You don’t get to see much of Elvis performing because Priscilla was rarely there to experience it with him and the movie makes it a point to highlight her solitude throughout their relationship using Priscilla’s memoir Elvis and Me with a modern perspective that now understands the offputting dynamics at play.

Pay attention to the makeup and wardrobe. Priscilla’s changing aesthetic symbolized her early naivete to her slowly coming into her own, which was made clear by Elvis’ demands over what she wore and looked like. The scene where he takes her shopping was particularly indicative of how he molded Priscilla to his liking.

The acting was impeccable. Cailee Spaeny who plays Priscilla was convincing as both a schoolgirl and as a mother. She maintained a sort of fragility that was prevalent throughout the movie and still there even when she stood up for herself. The way she took on the character really showed just how Priscilla fell for Elvis to the extent of shaping her whole life around him as he expected her to do.

Jacob Elordi also shined in his role. Playing Elvis, it was refreshing to see him presented without overdoing the typical accent and mannerisms. In a way, his demeanor seemed natural and we’d go as far as saying it came across better than Austin Butler’s Elvis. There wasn’t much of a presence of the supporting cast, but Elvis’s grandmother Dodger (Lynne Griffin) stole our hearts.

The lack of a presence of supporting characters makes you wonder just why no one ever interfered with the relationship. It was clear that Priscilla was mistreated while Elvis ran off and did as he pleased, and yet no one seemed to object to his behavior. That seems like a deliberate choice by Coppola to deliver the message of just how improper them being together was.

WHERE TO WATCH- Sun City,Plaza CineComfort, Arkan, Zawya and soon to be playing in Sea Cinema Arabella, CFC, and Scene.

📚 FROM THE BOOKSTORE-

This book argues that productivity isn’t about discipline — it’s actually about joy. In his first published book, Feel-Good Productivity: How to Do More of What Matters to You, Youtuber and entrepreneur Ali Abdaal tries to make you feel good about what you do and let productivity “take care of itself”.

Productivity doesn’t have to be a chore: Using decades worth of psychology research, he determines that you can perform better only when you know how to turn a frustrating task into an enjoyable one. He claims that by incorporating this mindset and taking steps to implement it into your daily routine, you can make this mental switch.

How does one make the change you ask? It comes in threes. There are three “energisers” that boost happy productivity, three “blockers” that are getting in the way of that, and three “sustainers” that keep you going without falling off track. Abdaal will break each of these down using stories from successful people who live with this kind of structure.

In the era of hustle culture, this book is refreshing. It isn’t full of groundbreaking information, but it acts as a kind of cliff notes version of all the best feel-good and productivity practices. If you’re already well-versed on productivity psychology, this one might seem redundant to you but for anyone starting their journey it’s a great introduction.

WHERE TO FIND IT- Amazon.

🍴 HOT AND FRESH OUT OF THE KITCHEN-

Il Nilo delivers on elegance and taste. Located in Garden City, this Italian restaurant gives you an authentic experience all while staying true to its name, offering a stunning view from its waterfront location on the Nile. You’ll find all the usual suspects on the menu along with an assortment of fun drinks.

You can get the experience at any time of day. Breakfast is served from 9am to 2pm, giving you the option of sandwiches or a full Italian breakfast. The rest of the menu provides soups, pizza, pasta, coffee, cocktails, smoothies, juices, and dessert. We personally enjoyed the chicken mushroom soup, and the margarita pizza hit the spot. The pasta was delicious too, but we’d go back for the pizza.

Other than great food, you’ll get great service, and a fun environment. The prices can get a little high, but it will give you a warm ambience and a nice place to catch up with friends. Later in the night, the music picks up too.

We notice people are there more for a light meal than a big one. The majority of the customers were enjoying a drink and sharing a pizza rather than digging in, since the atmosphere is their biggest selling point. However, the food is still delicious but made to be more of a social experience.

💵 Per person: EGP 400-700

🪑 Outdoor seating: Yes

🍺 Alcohol: Yes

🦽 Accessibility friendly: Yes

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