The Green Knight opens up with a sly admission, written in medieval typeface the wording indicates that Lowery’s latest is “a filmed adaptation of the chivalric romance by Anonymous.”
Those who paid attention at school will note that this romance is commonly known as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, one of the most famous and important works of English literature, a 14th-century tale that has done for many a scholar.
What this opening cue does is suggest that all bets are off. And for the next two hours you’ll be as entertained as challenged.
Skewing closer in tone to, say, John Boorman’s 80s sorcery (without the bared boobs, though) The Green Knight’s supernatural adventure pitches comedy in with action beats and good old legend.
It is also fantastic to look at, with kudos to cinematographer Andrew Droz Palermo (A Ghost Story), yet there are hundreds, if not thousands of sumptuous films with no story (The Cell being one of them). Fortunately Lowery has the chops to balance the splendour with the real.
Gawain (Dev Patel) thinks he can earn his place at the legendary Round Table by beheading the Green Knight (Ralph Ineson), who dares Camelot’s bravest to take him on in a game of life and death.
Only Gawain rises to the bait looping off the tree beast’s noggin.
But is it really a victory when the very much not dead monster picks up his head and rides off, demanding a return bout next year?
In the original legend, Gawain is the greatest and purest knight. In the movie, he isn’t a knight at all; he’s the king’s favored nephew, a plucky upstart wanting to prove himself.
A never-better Patel, who has come a long way since Skins, deserves Oscar attention as the reckless Sir Gawain, a wannabe knight who is desperate to please his uncle, King Arthur (Sean Harris).
The less you know of the film (fill your boots on the source material) the better. Let this piece of pure cinema surprise and engulf you.
In a year where a return to cinema is rife with explosions and capes, The Green Knight is a call to arms for a return of risk-taking movie-making.
Click the below poster for Kinepolis screen times and information.
