Film-making clearly runs in the Coppola blood. Gia Coppla, granddaughter of Francis Ford and the niece of Sofia, is the latest family member to sit in the director’s seat.
After conspiring with her friend, James Franco, the pair decided to convert some of Franco’s short stories from his book, Palo Alto into a feature length film of the same name. Franco left the screenplay writing in Coppola’s hands, and by August of 2013 the film was released into the festival circuit.
The Generation Y director grew up on her aunt’s film sets, and since the age of two she’s appeared in several films, including New York Stories, co-written by her infamous family members. By the looks of the trailer, Coppola’s directing style has been influenced by her time on set with her aunt. Rays of sunlight lend an ethereal sheen to an otherwise dark story following several high school students looking for love, sex and trouble in northern California. The movie stars Emma Roberts, Franco, and Val Kilmer.
The book, which inspired Coppola to take on the project, consists largely of “nihilistic violence and gratuitous gore,” leaving the plot empty and lacking an “individual characterization,” (New York Times). Maybe at the hands of a female director and screenwriter, Franco’s gruesome and sexist coming-of age-tales will offer more than simple shock value.
From festival circuit reviews it looks as though Coppola has done just that. The Hollywood Reporter calls it “the best feature film directed by someone named Coppola in a number of years.” And IndieWire says it’s “a strong and soulful debut” from the young director.
Here’s to three generations of Coppolas, and another woman in the director’s seat. Palo Alto arrives in New York and LA theaters May 9.
6TAGS: entertainment Women directors