This was so good... I had to study the original text and the Armitage translation, plus the film, for a very competitive exam in English literature in France last year. I had the help of an old teacher who had been instrumental in the choice, and she guided me well. I was delighted when it came up on the day of the oral exams. I was completely ravished by the film. What a psychedelic experience! Diving deeper into the text, I found a beautiful and mysterious deployment of the transition in English society between a clannish gift economy and a later medieval feudal system.. That's what I argued in my presentation, and the jury seemed to concur: 18/20, an almost unprecedented mark.... It helps that I read a section in my best impression of Middle English (I'm pretty sure they themselves had as little idea as I did, but I did it with enough panache that they bought it...)
That's kind of you to say, but my own expertise was very much cobbled together on brief impressions... It's just that I fooled the jury into thinking it was more than that!
A wonderful essay on a fabulous film that's become one of my favourite fantasy films in a very short space of time (after several rewatches of my Blu-Ray, following my initial viewing at the cinema). Some great thematic analysis here too. Visually, the film is remarkable, and I think your comparison with John Boorman's similarly wonderful Excalibur is apt. They'd make a splendid double bill. :)
Here's my review from the time it was released, if you're interested:
Cheers, Simon! That's a great review you did for Medium. Did you know Arrow are doing a 4k of Excalibur coming out in Feb? That's an auto-purchase for me! :D
I liked Rohmer's Percival pretty well. I don't feel that Excalibur has aged, but check out Liam Neeson talking about his first sight of Helen Mirren as Morgan le Fay.
In the 1960s, I saw a tv retelling of Sir Gawain and the Loathly Damsel (similar to the Wife of Bath's tale) but I the internet does not yield any indication of what that might be. It was right after I read Once and Future King, so I was susceptible. If anyone knows what I saw, I would love to rediscover it.
But I agree that Green Knight has the weirdness found in a lot of early Arthuriana: try the wildly antisemitic Perlesvaus in which Arthur's son has a penchant of sleeping with the head of a foe he has just slain. (Sir Kay murders the kid and steals the head, which leads to the death of Guinevere. Wild stuff.)
Not sure I've ever seen the Eric Rohmer movie, though I still love Excalibur for its crazy intensity. Very fond memories of T.H. White's beautiful writing in the first book of Once and Future King. Must admit, I'm probably more familiar with Greek myth than I am with Matter of Britain, but its mystery just makes it feel all the more enticing. If I ever find out anything about that 1960s Gawain show I'll get back to you. Thanks for reading, copans.
I have to admit that this movie didn't do anything for me when I watched it (and I was REALLY excited for it). After reading your review, I'll have to give it another try an see!
I've always loved the Green Knight legends - in large part because of their weirdness. Sounds like this film does them justice. It had completely passed me by, but I'll definitely be watching now. Wonderfully entertaining review!
This was so good... I had to study the original text and the Armitage translation, plus the film, for a very competitive exam in English literature in France last year. I had the help of an old teacher who had been instrumental in the choice, and she guided me well. I was delighted when it came up on the day of the oral exams. I was completely ravished by the film. What a psychedelic experience! Diving deeper into the text, I found a beautiful and mysterious deployment of the transition in English society between a clannish gift economy and a later medieval feudal system.. That's what I argued in my presentation, and the jury seemed to concur: 18/20, an almost unprecedented mark.... It helps that I read a section in my best impression of Middle English (I'm pretty sure they themselves had as little idea as I did, but I did it with enough panache that they bought it...)
Wow! Doubt I’ve got any like your level of expertise on this, Malachas! :D I’ve read the Armitage version and loved it.
That's kind of you to say, but my own expertise was very much cobbled together on brief impressions... It's just that I fooled the jury into thinking it was more than that!
A wonderful essay on a fabulous film that's become one of my favourite fantasy films in a very short space of time (after several rewatches of my Blu-Ray, following my initial viewing at the cinema). Some great thematic analysis here too. Visually, the film is remarkable, and I think your comparison with John Boorman's similarly wonderful Excalibur is apt. They'd make a splendid double bill. :)
Here's my review from the time it was released, if you're interested:
https://medium.com/simon-dillon-cinema/film-review-the-green-knight-1bafee29494c?sk=ec3e8bf85bd5efee8199c590a3bd859d
Cheers, Simon! That's a great review you did for Medium. Did you know Arrow are doing a 4k of Excalibur coming out in Feb? That's an auto-purchase for me! :D
I only have Excalibur on DVD so it definitely sounds like time for an upgrade. Also, glad to hear you're a physical media person. :)
Yeah, been getting in 4K stuff recently. Here's a link to Excalibur. Loads of lovely stuff on there: https://www.arrowfilms.com/p/excalibur-limited-edition-4k-uhd/17631534/
I liked Rohmer's Percival pretty well. I don't feel that Excalibur has aged, but check out Liam Neeson talking about his first sight of Helen Mirren as Morgan le Fay.
In the 1960s, I saw a tv retelling of Sir Gawain and the Loathly Damsel (similar to the Wife of Bath's tale) but I the internet does not yield any indication of what that might be. It was right after I read Once and Future King, so I was susceptible. If anyone knows what I saw, I would love to rediscover it.
But I agree that Green Knight has the weirdness found in a lot of early Arthuriana: try the wildly antisemitic Perlesvaus in which Arthur's son has a penchant of sleeping with the head of a foe he has just slain. (Sir Kay murders the kid and steals the head, which leads to the death of Guinevere. Wild stuff.)
Not sure I've ever seen the Eric Rohmer movie, though I still love Excalibur for its crazy intensity. Very fond memories of T.H. White's beautiful writing in the first book of Once and Future King. Must admit, I'm probably more familiar with Greek myth than I am with Matter of Britain, but its mystery just makes it feel all the more enticing. If I ever find out anything about that 1960s Gawain show I'll get back to you. Thanks for reading, copans.
I have to admit that this movie didn't do anything for me when I watched it (and I was REALLY excited for it). After reading your review, I'll have to give it another try an see!
I've always loved the Green Knight legends - in large part because of their weirdness. Sounds like this film does them justice. It had completely passed me by, but I'll definitely be watching now. Wonderfully entertaining review!
Thanks, T K. Yeah, a great if challenging film.
Such a weird and fascinating movie. I first saw it on a plane, which was a weird enough situation as it was...
On a plane? Wow! That would be a suitably liminal space in which to watch it, for sure. :D
I'm not a big fan of Arthuriana, but I love Green Knight and Robert Bresson's Lancelot du Lac.
Not seen Lancelot du Lac in years. Pretty sure Lowery cited at as another influence on Green Knight! Thanks for reading!
THIS. Was good. Yes I will watch it again.
Thanks for making the time to write it. And thanks to everyone who made this film.