Despite premiering at SXSW 2020, ‘The Green Knight’ has been delayed indefinitely. The gazillion tentative release dates in that period never amounted to anything concrete till July of this year. Therefore, during this period, much like its subject, the movie itself attained mythical status. A24’s cult following certainly was instrumental in it.
The movie showcases collages of individual frames with the vivid color palette on display catching the internet’s imagination. It seemed like a movie meant for immediate greatness. And it almost felt certain to become a part of the canon of great period films.
Reality though could hardly be further from the truth. There is no question about director David Lowery’s ambition in making the film. Despite being a period film with high production value, most of ‘The Green Knight’ shooting has been with fashion reminiscent. As a small-time production, it works great in its favor. In addition, it stays true to the independent spirit of the story. A24 has always come to represent its filmography the best way in the previous decade.
Yet, it is a film that straddles between two ideas it has of itself. This leads to an indecisive approach that becomes an obstacle in the way we experience the film. One approach may block the success of another when it hinders our investment in the movie.
The Green Knight: Arthurian Legen Retold
The film, by its own admission, is a ‘retelling’ of the Arthurian legend. However, casting Dev Patel, a British actor with Indian ancestry, shows how the film disregards a conventional look at the story it is trying to tell. Gawain, the young nephew of King Arthur is frivolous and in search of greatness like his uncle and his revered knights.
However, when an opportunity presents itself to Gawain by the eponymous Green Knight, he recklessly takes him up on it. This leads him on a life-changing journey as for the first time in his life, he learns to earn his keep. It is ‘honor,’ which has a close connection to sexuality, that is at the core of the film, which Gawain cares about deeply but has difficulty grasping.
The movie exemplifies most effectively in the final montage, during which the theme is virtually wordless. It is devoid of undeveloped dialogue, which affects a large portion of the film.
As Sir Gawain sets out on his journey, the movie becomes a medieval road film. It shows various people and situations he encounters along the way in search of his destination, the Green Chapel, where the Green Knight awaits his arrival. This is an intriguing series of events, where his experiences become a mix of astonishing, magical discoveries and the pettiness of human beings.
The Green Knight: Masculinity and Male Ego at its Peak
Challenging dominant perceptions of masculinity is an important theme. However, this is only because King Arthur is a gaunt, old man with a croaky voice instead of a prominent, imposing figure. On the contrary, Dev Patel has a constantly bemused look with his experiences throughout his journey. And also, at times, it perils, instead of looking stoic and lacking the ability to be surprised, as is expected of the high office of a knight.
The film is undoubtedly gorgeous, with every frame composed meticulously. It’s shot on a fraction of the budget that such films are generally shot on, yet nothing gives that away. Lowery creates a mesmerizing world with its juxtaposition of the ordinary with the fantastic at regular intervals. The colors, which vary significantly from scene to scene, add an immense flair.
The misty, imposing landscapes with mountains and rocks constantly dwarves Gawain. This makes it highly effective in telling the story visually. The hypnotic quality of these visually beautiful moments, combined with a piece of melancholy, choral music, brings out undeniable stirring emotions. Gawain’s meeting with Winifred where she asks him to retrieve her head from a lake is a scene that is bewitching in its capacity to surprise us with his discovery.
The scene at the Green Chapel is dreamlike. It is presented as a ruin overrun by creepers and climbers. Lost in a yellow haze, it feels separated from the gray monotony of the path Gawain had to take to reach it.
The Green Knight: A Little Bit of Mix in the Romance
The tragedy of the film is just this. On the one hand, it is a film with a series of fantastic images. On the other hand, in conjunction with the music, it creates an excellent sensory experience. It feels like an almost hallucinatory journey into the unknown, where our wonder is no different from Gawain’s own.
But, on the other hand, it is also a film desperately trying to give us a revisionist take on the original Arthurian romance. This creates an apparent conflict between the film’s intentions. Given the visual allure, it could easily have been a film of abstract beauty, with the narrative being secondary to its aim of creating unforgettable imagery.
Yet this oscillation between visual storytelling and the narrative makes it feel like a Zack Snyder film. Most scenes try to be these grand cinematic moments with the visual beauty meant to enthrall us. In contrast, the symbolic aspect meant to dazzle us amounts to little more than bland episodes. One example of this is when Gawain comes across the giants slouching across a valley. He whimsically asks them to give him a ride on their shoulders. It’s an incredible moment sensually, yet the shoehorned in the theme of honor and the shortcuts Gawain takes in trying to attain it ruins it.
Conclusion
‘The Green Knight’ is a film that is crushed by its own weight. Little can be questioned about its technical competence. It is the work of a director with a vision, just not an extremely clear one. Nevertheless, it’s a film that indeed has all the potential to live up to its expectations.
Still, its desire to be cinematically comprehensive with its various elements perfectly complementing one another comes in the way. As a result, it can undoubtedly be seen as a cinematic experience but not one from which one should expect to extract much. But that doesn’t mean that the film lacks memorable moments but fails to build on them or is disturbed by its own ambition.
If you like this review from us, check out other links to help you watch something new!