In the 14th Century, an unknown author wrote the Arthurian legend Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The story is about the virtuous Sir Gawain, who accepts a challenge from a mysterious Green Knight that ends grimly. In 2018, A24 announced that acclaimed director David Lowery would adapt the story for a modern audience. Lowery drew inspiration from 80s fantasy films like Willow and Excalibur, known for their much darker tones. For the lead role, Dev Patel, who was working on The Personal History of David Copperfield, was cast. While the film was an adaptation, Lowery decided to make Sir Gawain a more flawed character to stand apart. He also made the conscious effort not directly to reference King Arthur or any of his knights aside from Gawain. While initially planned for a May 2020 release, The Green Knight finally hit theaters in July 2021.
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Synopsis
In the Middle Ages, a young knight named Gawain (Dev Patel) must go to Camelot on Christmas Day. Soon, the mysterious Green Knight (Ralph Ineson) visits and offers a challenge to The King (Sean Harris) and his knights. If anyone can land a blow on The Green Knight, they’ll win his green axe, but there’s a catch. Whoever wins must travel to visit him at The Green Chapel and receive an equal blow from the knight. Gawain accepts the challenge and decapitates the knight, winning his axe, but the knight reminds him of the deal. After soaking in the reverence for a year, Gawain sets out on his quest to find The Green Knight. Along the way, Gawain’s honor and chivalry are called into question as he meets some interesting characters. Will Gawain succeed in his quest, or will he back down from his destiny?
Review
Aside from the fundamental premise, I didn’t know what to expect when I went into this movie. I’m glad I went in knowing next to nothing because The Green Knight is one of 2021’s best films. First off, Dev Patel does an excellent job playing Sir Gawain, especially considering he’s the only one we follow. It’s interesting to see him play this character as someone struggling with living up to expectations. After slaying the Green Knight, he’s already hailed as a hero, and people revere him despite not venturing on his quest. There are points throughout the film where he’s tempted to turn back, but he instead chooses to keep going. Ralph Ineson is also memorable as the titular character, especially with the heavy prosthetics, and has a commanding presence. The cast also features Alicia Vikander, Joel Egerton, and Sean Harris, who do a fantastic job.
The Green Knight is a fantasy film that other similar movies should note since most nowadays are relatively forgettable. Not only does the film have a great cast, but the production design and overall filmmaking are breathtaking. David Lowery takes full advantage of the locations given and creates some beautiful imagery, like something out of a painting. While they use some digital effects, there are more practical effects, and the CGI helps complement those effects. There are some genuinely memorable digital set pieces, which is rare in a world where digital is the norm. Plus, Daniel Hart’s haunting score adds to the overall atmosphere without getting in the way of what’s happening. The slow pacing might put off some audiences, but it’s still a journey worth taking at least once. Overall, The Green Knight is a beautifully well-crafted dark fantasy that makes you question Arthurian legend.
Buy The Green Knight from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3FH8e8J.
