I remember watching the trailer and I was interested in the film, was looking forward to its release. When it finally came on an OTT platform, I decided to ditch my studies and watch this film. And I can say that when the film ended I didn't regret not studying, instead I went back to studying with a new outlook on things in life.
The Green Knight is a retelling of an Arthurian tale/poem about Sir Gawain, the nephew of King Arthur. The film explores his journey, or his quest if you may, to The Green Chapel, the place where the mysterious Knight rests.
On a Christmas day, King Arthur is interrupted by a mysterious Green Knight who asks of someone who can offer a blow at him, if he succeeds, The Green Knight shall offer the exact blow to him one year later on the day of Christmas. Gawain accepts and using the Excalibur, he beheads the mysterious Green Knight, thinking he has put an end to the game, but the Green Knight gets back up, and picks up his head and tells Gawain the set rule of the game he has agreed to, the rule of the game is that the knight, Sir Gawain, will strike at the Green Knight, and then in a year and a day, the Green Knight will return the strike. The whole film then revolves around the journey of Sir Gawain, the five knightly virtues being the core aspect of the film.
Directed by David Lowery, this film is filled with symbolism and the callback to death and how it's an inevitable part of our life and that's how our journey shall end, through death.
Now, this film isn't for everyone, I've seen a lot of mixed feelings about this film. Personally, I loved the film, every aspect of it. Every frame of the film feels like a beautiful painting, and the cinematography is at par with a lot of visually beautiful films.
If you don't like "slow burner" films and want something that is filled with action sequences & some kind of goofy-ness, then this film isn't for you. But if you do like slow paced and medieval fantasy, that has a great plot, heavy symbolism and awesome visuals, then you're in for a treat.
I'd rate this film a 9/10, because nothing is perfect, not even this film but it deserves to be rated high enough, to be rated as one of the greatest films made.