3000 Years of Longing
The Second Review: A deceiving trailer may leave some disappointed, but for those who love narrative essays (ironically in this instance an essay on love and narrative), this may be gem.
George Miller has a diverse bag. If he only had Mad Max and Happy Feet, you’d have to agree, but his ability to float between worlds is unimpeachable. He also, in a much less celebrated way, is a pioneer in the blending of practical and digital effects, something for which he doesn’t get nearly the credit he deserves.
So what is this new jaunt?
Alathea (Tilda Swinton) is a literary scholar who just so happens upon a curio in an Istanbul bazaar that houses a Djinn (Idris Elba). The two then embark on a winding discussion about desire, it’s dangers and how wishes can be used.
The trailer had me imagining I was sitting down to something rather different. I was given the impression there might be more action, more pace and drama. In reality this is much less a blockbuster film, and instead a high budget essay on the subject of longing and loneliness. When the film ended and the credits began rolling, I heard the man behind me ask the woman he was with, “what did you think?”. She replied that she enjoyed it, and his response was that of shock. “You liked it? I thought it was boring. I thought it was going to be more exciting and like… better than that.”
Recently, Rage Against the Machine were unable to headline Reading Festival and they were replaced by The 1975. There was inevitable anger from Rage fans, but my partner (while understanding the anger) said they might be one of the very few people in the venn diagram crossover of being a big fan of both bands. I have to be honest I felt the same about this film.
This isn’t a slick action film or high tempo heist. It’s an interesting conversation played out between two great actors. I was expecting the former, but I was so happy with getting the latter.
This is not for everyone and it’s certainly not for people hoping for a Mad Max type thrill ride (or a clear message like Happy Feet). It might make for an interesting case study on trailer curation, but part of me wanders if the dissonance is intentional.
It is an essay illustrated in conversation. Perfect? No. Interesting? Definitely.
