Based on the 14th-century poem “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,” A24’s epic medieval fantasy film The Green Knight was theatrically released in the United States on July 30, 2021. Written, directed, and edited by American filmmaker David Lowery, the film is produced under Ley Line Entertainment, Bron Studios, Wild Atlantic Pictures, and Sailor Bear.
The film follows Sir Gawain (Dev Patel), the nephew of King Arthur (Sean Harris), embarking on a quest to valiantly confront the titular antagonist the Green Knight (Ralph Ineson), and prove himself among his court.
Originally scheduled to have its world premiere at South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival on March 16, 2020, the festival was cancelled and the film was pulled out from the schedule. Furthermore, director Lowery also wasn’t satisfied with the film’s original cut, thus spending nearly six months reworking on the film. What may have been a silver lining, audiences had to wait for over one year.
Adapting the chivalric romance
A24, the independent film studio, is no stranger to ambitious fantasy stories that truly gets in the nitty gritty of the filmmaking niche. Catering to audiences who are familiar with the A24 touch, The Green Knight is not a typical action/adventure about the Arthurian legend. Lowery’s direction focuses on the contemplative nature of it all, delving deep into the artistry and grandeur of slow-paced cinema.
Moreso, the film's colors and cinematography pop out what many would think as dull and dragging. But on the other hand, the film’s score, made by American musician and composer Daniel Hart, is a worthy complement to the way we perceive the visual elements. Having previously worked with Lowery on A Ghost Story, Hart knows how to capture the atmosphere through music一as the score sounds visceral, cunning, and mysterious all at the same time.
With the arrival of the titular antagonist, it rolls a dice in the game of beheading with Sir Gawain taking the challenge, one year hence. As Sir Gawain seeks greatness, he is reminded by his sweetheart Essel (Alicia Vikander) on “Why is goodness not enough?”
With a psychological game, packed with Arthurian legend magic, the film’s thought-provoking nature clouds what would have been a simple story. This is the typical hero’s journey, molded by the blueprint of American literary professor Joseph Campbell.
We see Sir Gawain go through a myriad of challenges along the way, further harnessing his true potential as a noble knight of the court. Like most of us, we learn from our mistakes, and we challenge ourselves to make wise decisions for our own betterment. Patel’s performance as Sir Gawain exemplifies the true nature of humans—when desperate times call for desperate measures.
While much can be said about the film’s visual aesthetic being overindulgent at times, the film overstretched a film that could’ve had a trimmed-down running time. There are times when the film relies too much on the visual element. But then again, the film deserves a rewatch upon the first viewing.
Overall, The Green Knight breaks the boundaries of a typical blockbuster in modern times. This feels like an A24 “event film,” but it’s more of showcasing a much grander scale-story from the more-low budget films the studio has produced over the years.
Relive the theatrical experience at home as The Green Knight is available for rent on Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV.
