Sofia Coppola: Forever Young

by Hannah Strong, Little White Lies (Illustrator)

Hannah Strong’s Sofia Forever Young is an illustrated critical survey of the Academy Award–winning writer and director’s career, covering everything from her groundbreaking music videos through her latest films. In the two decades since her first feature film was released, Sofia Coppola has created a tonally diverse, meticulously crafted, and unapologetically hyperfeminine aesthetic across a wide range of multimedia work. Her films explore untenable relationships and the euphoria and heartbreak these entail, and Coppola develops these themes deftly and with discernment across her movies and music videos. From The Virgin Suicides and Marie Antoinette to Lost in Translation and The Beguiled, Coppola’s award-nominated filmography is also unique in how its consistent visual aesthetic is informed by and in conversation with contemporary fine art and photography. Sofia Coppola offers a rich and intimate look at the overarching stylistic and thematic components of Coppola’s work. In addition to critical essays about Coppola’s filmography, the book includes interviews with some of her closest collaborators, including musician Jean-Benoît Dunckel and costume designer Nancy Steiner, along with a foreword by Italian filmmaker Alice Rohrwacher. It engages with her creative output while celebrating her talent as an image maker and storyteller. Along the way, readers meet again a cast of characters mired in the ennui of missed loneliness, frustrated creativity, rebellious adolescence, and the double-edged knife of celebrity, all captured by the emotional, intimate power of the female gaze. Includes color photographs and illustrations

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Art, Coffee Table Books, Biography

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 17, 2022

Reviews

[kennedy clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

sat and read this all in one sitting basically!!!

[Michael Bohli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Die Filme von Sofia Coppola - Werke irgendwo zwischen verträumter Sehnsucht und verklärter Weltanschauung. Für mich nicht ohne Faszination, wussten besonders "The Virgin Suicides", "Lost In Translation" und auch "The Bling Ring" zu überzeugen.

Mit dem Sachbuch "Sofia Coppola: Forever Young" untersucht Hannah Woodhead die Filme thematisch geordnet, allerdings ohne Mitarbeit der Regisseurin selbst. Das verhindert stellenweise tiefe Einblicke in das Schaffen, dafür ist die bildreiche Gestaltung des Buches gelungen.

[Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to watch all these movies again

[lucinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The essays in this book are so interesting & well-constructed, and I nearly cried over how pretty the design is. Sliving, loves it.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, huge shout-out to my mom for buying this for me at the Academy Museum gift shop when we were there in March. They had a fantastic selection of film books, and only leaving with one was a great show of restraint on my part. I had to get Sofia Coppola: Forever Young because I'm a Sofia Coppola girl and have never seen it in a bookstore before.

This book is the answer to most of my frustrations with Archive, Sofia Coppola's 2023 book. Archivew is great for its pictures and its insights into Sofia's creative process, but it is light on text. Strong offers an intelligent, critical look at Coppola's films while celebrating their distinct aesthetics and focus on girlhood and femininity. Because of when it was published, it does not include Priscilla, but otherwise it's pretty comprehensive. Strong also offers production notes and interviews with some of Coppola's collaborators, which I found to be fascinating.

Sofia Coppola: Forever Young would be perfect on your coffee table next to Archive. Throw in a script copy of Priscilla, and you officially have a cool film girl apartment. Definitely recommended!

[Madelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful wonderful analysis of my favorite directors’ films, hannah is such an amazing writer!!!!!! <3

[The Nomadic Book Reviewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

** 3/4

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful blend of critical and personal reflection of Sofia Coppola's career (thus far).

I fully admit that I've become a sucker for these LWL filmmaker books; they're gorgeous with full page quality screencaps and clever design choices to match the contemporary writing styles of each author. Hannah Woodhead's voice shines strong in this one, and I fell in love with her personal touch of sensations and nostalgia in each chapter/section. Her dedication to "The Virgin Suicides" is especially poignant. And I'm really glad she didn't shy away from exploring the real issues within some of Sofia's more privileged/problematic creative liberties (mainly with race in "Lost in Translation" and "The Beguiled, and social class in "On the Rocks").

Pair this with some older but none the less stunning and thoughtful critiques of Sofia's work: Sofia Coppola: The Politics of Visual Pleasure and Sofia Coppola: A Cinema of Girlhood

[no · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm also of the opinion that Sofia Coppola is a great and underappreciated auteur of American cinema, so I enjoyed this. Respect for the will to write some full-bodied essays about works as underwhelming as On the Rocks, as flawed as The Bling Ring, or as slight as that Bill Murray Christmas special. Strong's exegeses of The Virgin Suicides and Marie Antoinette are worth interrupting your day for if you're at all into Sofia Coppola and want to take the time to think a little more intensely about her affective approach. I am not sure she's made a great film since Marie Antoinette—2023's Priscilla isn't covered here but it's probably the one I liked most; haven't seen The Beguiled yet—but Strong has made me want to rewatch Somewhere.

Takeaway:
"Sofia's vision of the agony and the ecstasy of being a teenage girl is the closest anyone has come to articulating that excruciating feeling—the curious, foggy sensation of watching the world go by from behind a pane of glass."

[Marianna Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides a comprehensive and visually captivating exploration of Sofia Coppola’s body of work, delving into the inspirations behind her unique style and the lasting impact she has had on contemporary cinema. It meticulously examines her films, from The Virgin Suicides to Lost in Translation and beyond, highlighting her distinctive use of visual aesthetics, subtle storytelling, and deeply personal themes. Through a rich compilation of film stills, production notes, and behind-the-scenes insights, the book offers a window into Coppola’s creative process and artistic vision. It not only celebrates her contributions as a filmmaker but also traces the cinematic legacy she is building, inspiring a new generation of filmmakers with her nuanced portrayal of complex characters and emotionally resonant narratives.

[False · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the true fan, it would be a worthwhile purchase, but the author inserts way too much of her own personality and life history into the biography and criticism of another person and their work. Those tiny blue insert pictures were poorly thought out, and they are scattered throughout the book. Difficult to see, and if you are a fan of Coppola, the visual is all.

I've seen about half of Coppola's existing work, and I can't say I'm a huge fan. She is irked at the term "nepokid" and yet what is she? Using her father's name, his studio, his equipment. Way too much emphasis on well heeled teens, attractive lithe blonde and materialism out the wazoo. The author nails her repeating themes: Innocence and Violence, Celebrity and Excess, Fathers and Daughters and Love and Loneliness.

[Lezlee Hays · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled across this and have never bought a better coffee table style book. The analysis of Coppola’s movies combined with an extensive review of inspirations and references - it’s lovely! The descriptive writing is great prose and the author provides great insight. It’s niche in that only big Sophia Coppola fans will probably appreciate it properly but it’s perfect if you self identify as a fan.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sofia is one of my favourite filmmakers and an absolutely seminal influence on me as a writer and appreciator of film, so this book was a joy. The author connects with her work in much the same way I do and her analyses are always thoughtful and sincere. Especially loved the collection of interviews at the end, Kirsten's chief among them <3 This will be a great coffee table centrepiece for whenever I have a coffee table!

[claire shu · Rating 2 out of 5]

the intro really resonated with me as someone whose depression was later diagnosed as BPD in the throes of female teenhood. the writing drew me into her world... but the writing definitely reduced in quality as the book went on and the author seemed to relentlessly defend coppola's shortcomings (ie. most of her movies are from a privileged lens, the erasure of POC, particularly black people of colour, etc) and it became more painful to read.

[Mari C.L. Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. Love a book on a director from a film critic and also a fan. Organized thematically in a really smart way. Engages with the critiques, dismissively sometimes but takes seriously others (importantly, the lack of dignity afforded to Japanese people in Lost in Translation). Beautifully put together. Really valuable interviews.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

her films have been described as vapid but the essays and interviews do a good job of showing that being vapid is the point - a central theme of her films is that money and fame won't protect you from loneliness, boredom and isolation. and if that is so, then why does our society valorise these things?

[Kortney · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re a Sophia Coppola, this is for you. It’s SO much cheaper than the book she released and this one provides all of the amazing behind the scenes of movies like the (incredible) Marie Antoinette and (dark, but amazing) Somewhere. The pics are astounding!

[Gabs Broderick · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a massive Sofia fan I’ve gone through this book the past 2 years on my birthday. It is well written
and the images are so beautiful. I haven’t read archives yet but don’t think it includes much text and I loved reading about the process of each film 🎀🎀

[John Bleasdale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great panorama of an underrated filmmaker. Now have several films on my rewatch list.

[Raquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely beautiful book <3

[Cameron K]

Hardcover borrowed from Trevor

[Margot · Rating 5 out of 5]

J’ai envie de pleurer je l’aime trop j’ai besoin de graver tout le contenu de ce livre dans ma tête pour jamais oublier

[Bloodorange]

Took some notes on The Virgin Suicides.

[Phoebe Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best christmas present my mom could have got me😍

[lana banana · Rating 5 out of 5]

ringrazio le mie amichette per questo bellissimo regalo

[Dome]

“Mentre penso ai suoi film, ai suoi personaggi, penso a una discesa, vertiginosa. Una scalinata che si scende di corsa, col cuore in subbuglio, tra il riso e il pianto, verso il mare.”

-Alice Rohrwacher