Film Number 32 of 2022
The Film: Three Thousand Years of Longing
The Cinema: Village Cinemas, The Rivoli, Camberwell
Stars: 4
I see there's a movie with Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton in it and it has to be seen. Idris Elba for the yum factor - and Tilda Swinton is incredible in everything she does. And the film is a drama, fantasy, romance film that will fill up a Saturday afternoon. I'm in. I also loved the look of the trailer.
What's this film about?
Alithia Binney (Tilda Swinton) is a lonely, quiet academic who studies stories. She lives a quiet life by herself, writing and studying her stories and keeping her nose clean.
On a trip to Istanbul, she buys a small glass bottle in the Grand Bazaar - and as it happens, later that night, she releases a genie (Idris Elba). As is the case with genies, he offers Alithea three wishes in exchange for his freedom. The genie is a hopeless romantic. Alithia is a frosty academic who has a tender core if you dig hard enough.
This isn't a film about what happens when you release a genie. It's more a cautionary tale about what happens when you make wishes and the consequences that occur. Alithia takes in the Djinn's story, working out for herself what it is she needs and wants.
The film is based on AS Byatt's tale, The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye and was directed by George Miller, who's responsible for such films as Mad Max, Happy Feet and Babe.
Being honest, what can you do with a story about a genie in a bottle? It's a simple tale. You get three wishes, the genie is given their freedom.
There is a lot more to this film - a bit of a Scheherezade in its own right, going into the life of the genie in detail, and how he managed to live and survive in this strange world.
What is great about this film is the direction and cinematography. This is a sumptuous affair, gloriously shot and set. The colours on the screen are glorious. George Miller and Augusta Gore's script is tight and funny, with just the right mix of pathos for the slighlty tragic Alithea and the unlucky genie. At times, it had a feeling of being like Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, as much of the scenes between Swinton and Elba were set in a hotel room.
This isn't going to be a film for everybody - but it is a wonderful diversion. Mind you, I could look at Idris Elba all day. There's also a lot of small cameos from Australian actors in the film - it's fun and very unexpected. I was trying to work out where some of these faces belonged - Megan Gale and Anne Charleston being two of these small parts up there for you to ponder.
I fully realise this isn't a film for everybody, but I loved it. It's nice to see a talkative romance with a lot of heart and wonderful visuals.
And it's Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton - why wouldn't you go along?
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