The Green Knight

A person is a social creature and as such is forced to play social roles practically throughout their entire life. Denying them brings misunderstanding, isolation, and contempt from others. We are simply much less free than we think in our pride. The protagonist of the film, Gawain, is not an exemplary knight - in fact, he doesn't even aspire to that position and knightly virtues are somewhat meaningless to him. However, when confronted with the royal court and the wishes of the royal majesty himself, he commits an act out of zeal that signifies the end of his previous life. David Lowery dismisses fans of commercial fantasy fairy tales and maliciously strips his film of all the usual genre elements that audiences enjoy in such productions. Instead, he serves a slow, visually embellished journey of his hero in pursuit of fulfilling his destiny. It's a journey where Lowery systematically tears down Gawain and deprives him of any nobility and heroism. In return, he makes him deeply human and, as shown in the final confrontation with the Green Knight, willing to accept his fate. I saw the film as part of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival late in the evening, which didn't do me any favors, as I struggled to stay awake. Due to the intimate nature of the work, I couldn't avoid a few micro-naps, which cost it a star. An afternoon screening might have propelled The Green Knight to the highest rating, as the director made a positive impression on me. I would reward it with 80% and recommend seeing the film, ideally on the big screen where its visuals shine. (23/11/2021)

Even though it's more of an allegory than a straightforward story, I found this film fascinating. We could endlessly debate the casting of Dev Patel, an Indian actor, in a medieval fantasy lead role. But honestly, he looks so fantastic in this gritty world that he fits right in. Visually stunning and sonically mesmerizing, it's a wild ride. For over two hours, I was captivated, often puzzled, yet thoroughly enchanted. It may be a bit of a trip, but it delivered everything I hoped for and more. (26/04/2023)

David Lowery targets high art in Middle English. He tries so hard to give it charisma and personality that he fails at both (one casting connection with Kurzel's Macbeth seems to slyly suggest that not everyone will end up the same way). Now, regarding the meaning, which, due to artistic license and societal demand, slightly differs from the 14th-century poem. Is it about honor and human goodness, which should stand above the desire to leave a legacy? About breaking away from one's mother and standing on one's own feet in adulthood? About the conflict between man and nature, where, even within the symbolism of the color green, there is always only one winner? About the power of women taking control over weak men (see the post-credits scene)? No, let's not search for anything complicated here. The Green Knight simply desired a handsome sir from Arthur's court and lured him into a sexual trap. In this three-phase game, however, he only got a kiss (and that was by his own initiative), a handjob was denied for unknown reasons, and his bet that Gawain would succumb to the lady of the castle and that he would then find pleasure among the moss and holly trunks did not pay off at all. No wonder heads had to roll after that. Now try to prove me wrong. (21/10/2021)

I have been waiting for The Green Knight seriously for about a year, maybe two. Since I first caught sight of just its title, I had it in my mind with the feeling that it would highly interest me. So, the joy was even greater when I saw it in the Karlovy Vary program. It was a pretty stupid idea to show this film only in the midnight section, but the desire to see it was stronger than the need for sleep. The Green Knight is not suitable for the midnight section, as it does not burst with any action scenes and just smoothly progresses and the story is conceived as Gawain's odyssey, where he encounters various, diverse characters. However, artistically and craftily, it is an absolute delight for the eyes and ears, and, above all, I was really looking forward to the visual aspect. Because it is styled with precision, it has an atmosphere like no other and entices with its historical accuracy and costumes. Although it tends more towards artistic waters, it actually pleased me even more. A real treat for true fans. Studio A24 always has an ace up its sleeve. KVIFF 2021 (02/09/2021)

Such a powerful experience that it was perhaps an outright blast. The Green Knight is a gorgeous looking and smart film chock full of ideas, hints, symbols and whatnot that I definitely didn't catch or understand the first time around, but that makes me want to watch it again all the more. Excalibur? What Excalibur? And the music! (26/03/2023)