Since 1992
Print and digital marketing
Three Thousand Years of Longing
(MGM/Filmnation/United Artists Releasing)
By Lucas Allen
In 2015, Australian auteur George Miller made history with his Oscar-winning masterpiece “Mad Max: Fury Road,” which not only revived the series, but also redefined modern cinema. He now returns with a different kind of cinematic experience with his new film “Three Thousand Years of Longing.” The trailer may make you think it’s a visually ambitious but quirky romantic comedy, but it goes beyond that.
Alithea (Tilda Swinton) is a self-proclaimed narratologist – someone who studies stories. She doesn’t have a family of her own after her husband left her and she lives alone. Arriving in Istanbul for a conference, she buys a blue vase. After bringing it back to her hotel room, she accidentally unleashes a magical genie (Idris Elba), or “djinn” as he’s called, who commands her to make three wishes. But she’s not easily persuaded, as she reminds him that the stories about granting wishes often lead to ironic endings, especially the darker ones.
So, he recounts many stories about his past life, including being in love with Queen Sheba, witnessing the rise and fall of a kingdom during the Ottoman Empire, and helping a young woman expand her knowledge. Each one of the stories ends with the djinn being trapped in his own prison, longing to return. Alithea’s connection with the genie grows when she decides to make her first wish.
Being a George Miller film, it doesn’t really go for anything standard, but does go for the extraordinary, whether it’s a post-apocalyptic future or dancing penguins. In this case, it’s a highly colorful explosion of eye-popping visuals within a strange and beautiful story. The filmmaker and his team do a great job putting together such stunning imagery for a movie meant for the big screen.
Storywise, the movie may not be everyone’s taste. It’s very dialogue-heavy, with the script emphasizing storytelling deconstruction and plenty of exposition dumping. But in some strange way, once you get to the meat of the flashbacks, you’ll find yourself drawn to the story. Watching the djinn’s history unfolding, it’s a crazy yet beautiful experience you can’t take your eyes off.
Despite the heavy dialogue, the scenes between the two main characters help drive the film. Their growing relationship throughout the film is believable in spite of being a strange and unusual part of the story to begin with. By the time you get to the third act, you’ll be emotionally invested enough that you won’t have much issue with it.
Both of the lead actors give top-notch performances especially when working with a master visualist like Miller. Swinton is both tender and light-hearted as a stubborn yet emotionally driven working woman. Elba is electrifying as both a powerful genie and an immortal being longing for something more.
While Three Thousand Years of Longing isn’t going to set the world on fire, unlike “Fury Road,” there’s still a lot to admire about its beauty, elegance, and sophistication. Think of it as an R-rated “Aladdin,” mixed with the brutality and romance of a Terrance Malick film.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: R (for some sexual content, graphic nudity, and brief violence)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 3.5 Stars (Out of Four)
