"The Green Knight"
Genre: medieval drama, fantasy, philosophical, slow burn
"An epic fantasy adventure" is the epithet bestowed on this movie by the streaming service.
It is a fantasy/medieval tale
It is epic in scope in some ways and intimate in others
However this film is not an adventure in the sense advertised by Hollywood studios
Green Knight is one of the most mismarketed movies of recent years, alongside Hereditary. Interestingly, Green Knight has more in common with Hereditary than with a "Game of Thrones"/"Lord of the Rings" style fantasy adventure.
Inspired by a medieval poem, The Green Knight takes the straighter narrative of the poem and weaves in a story much more complex. There are films which don't give you easy answers however Green Knight is one that chooses to barely give you answers at all.
The music is atmospheric at times and frantic at others, urging you to notice details to parse things out. The art design is grimy and lived in, eskewing the days of polished castles and shiny armour.
This film dives deep into themes of keeping your oaths, greatness vs goodness and most importantly an introspection on the death that comes for us all.
The most unique and unnerving trait of the film is the protagonist's place in the story. We have been conditioned to stories where we follow the hero, messiah or even villain. However here we are given the sense that this is but a vignette in the grand Pantheon of Arthurian legend and even Gawain doesn't begin to comprehend the scope of the machinations unfolding around him.
The Green Knight might be one of the most thoughtful films of recent times but is also probably one of the least satisfying, leaving you wanting more.
Recommended Audience: Those looking for a slow burn to light up your brain cells and leave you interested in its meaning
Where to find it: Amazon Prime Video
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