dir. David Lowery (trailer)
Dark and atmospheric, The Green Knight is one of the most unique and beautiful films made in recent years. Telling the story of Sir Gawain and his journey to becoming a knight, the film follows Gawain (Dev Patel), the nephew of an aging King Arthur (Sean Harris) who is challenged to strike down the mysterious Green Knight after being challenged to a "friendly Christmas game". Supporting roles include Alicia Vikander in a dual role, Joel Edgerton, and Barry Keoghan.
The film brings a breath of fresh air to the world of Arthurian legends on film, focusing on the decline of Camelot and leaning heavily into the magical aspects of the story while staying rooted in realism. As Gawain progresses on his journey, he encounters increasingly unfamiliar situations that reveal his naiveté to the world outside of Camelot, such as getting robbed by scavengers, retrieving Saint Winifred's head, and becoming the obsession of a wealthy couple in a castle. Each of these events teaches him a lesson before ultimately meeting the Green Knight to carry out his end of the deal and sealing his fate.
Lowery tells the story in a mesmerizing way, taking time with each moment in the journey and allowing us to experience what Gawain is experiencing in real time. Everything that happens in the film really comes together in the last 20 minutes by giving Gawain the chance to visualize one of the paths his life could take before leaving the end of the film up the viewers to decide the outcome of, in a departure from the original tale.
The lush greenery that leads to decay can be felt through the lens of film, especially once Gawain reaches the Green Chapel on the end of his journey. I recommend this film to fans of fantasy and highly stylized story telling that takes place in a well-built world.
Rating: ★★★★★
Recommended for fans of: sci-fi/fantasy, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, action/adventure, Macbeth (2016), The Lighthouse (2020)
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