As with many projects temporarily shelved during the pandemic, The Green Knight is a film that critics have been eagerly anticipating. Yes, it’s an adaptation of a 14th-century poem, but it’s also helmed by David Lowery, director of intimate, slow-paced films like Ain’t Them Bodies Saints and A Ghost Story, and produced by indie studio powerhouse, A24. Lowery, wearing several hats as writer-producer-editor-director of the film, may seem an odd pairing for an Arthurian retelling—but his deliberate, poetic sensibilities produce a haunting, beautiful, and melodic odyssey that is unique in presentation while retaining the spirit of the centuries-old poem.
For anyone unfamiliar with 14th-century poetry, Gawain, the nephew of King Arthur, has his mettle tested as he journeys to a fated confrontation with the mysterious Green Knight. We see the story entirely through Gawain’s eyes, played masterfully by Dev Patel. Patel continues to be one of the finest actors of his generation. He is often surrounded by a particularly talented supporting cast, whose characters act as compelling narrative foils for Gawain’s arc, but this is Patel’s show and he never falters in carrying it. He is able to portray Gawain’s youthful brashness, reluctant dread, and out-of-his-element dear-in-headlights anxiety without ever losing Gawain’s humanity or relatability. As Gawain embarks on his slow journey to an inevitable grisly end, each hesitation and temptation to turn back extends the same questions to the audience: “Would I actually go through with this? Is the honor of keeping your word always worth the cost?” When a performance captures you in the same fundamental, existential questions of its character, you’re completely invested in following the story to it’s grim conclusion.
The production design and cinematography is what makes the film feel wholly unique. Lowery and cinematographer Andrew Drop Palermo utilize this medieval world to creates unsettling visuals and an ominous atmosphere to mirror Gawain’s uncertain descent toward the Green Knight. The images are gorgeous, bleak, and mesmerizing, paired by Daniel Hart’s unnerving and majestic score. Despite the dreamlike quality of the story, the world feels real and lived-in. The Green Knight’s design is a perfect representation of this: the knight is tall, monstrous, seemingly made from old tree bark, lending an inhuman, force-of-nature quality. It’s an amazing blend of make up and practical effects that feel both fantastic and tangible.
Some critics might argue that Lowery’s artistic voice overwhelms the film, but I felt Lowery’s style only kept me keenly aware I was being led by a filmmaker with total confidence. Those pacing and filmmaking choices will divide audiences. It is slow, deliberate, and (like any proper fantasy tale) rarely straightforward and often operating within dream logic. That will frustrate some viewers, but if you give yourself over to the film’s bewitching rhythms, you’ll be supremely satisfied by the outcome.
The Green Knight is currently playing in theaters. It runs 130 minutes and is rated R for violence, some sexuality and graphic nudity.
