The Beguiled is a 2017 American drama film written and directed by Sofia Coppola, based on the novel of the same name (originally published as A Painted Devil) by Thomas P. Cullinan. It stars Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, and Elle Fanning. A film of the same name, also based on Cullinan's book, was released in 1971. It premiered on May 24 at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, and was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or in its main competition section, where Coppola won the Best Director award, becoming only the second woman to do so.