Nearly a decade ago, director George Miller released what would become known as his masterpiece with 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road. Miller has since taken a long hiatus with rumors of a ‘Fury Road’ follow-up popping up every few months.
Out of nowhere, about three months ago, a trailer for his latest feature dropped, titled “Three Thousand Years of Longing.” For many fans, this came as a surprise. Because the film received very little marketing and was quickly shown on the festival circuit following its first trailer.
It may not have been the “Mad Max” sequel fans have been waiting for, but the movie seemed perfectly in line with Miller’s notoriously eccentric style. It is often pointed out as one of the strangest careers in . Miller directed all four of his most successful and famous ‘Mad Max’ films, which launched his career in the late 1970s.
Since then, he has also directed both The Witches of Eastwick, Babe: The Pig in the City, and Happy Feet. It’s safe to say that Miller has had an interesting career. “Mad Max” movies are known for their high-tension, apocalyptic, and violent action, while the rest of his films are mostly lighthearted kids movies.
Unbothered by preconceived notions and expectations, Miller took another detour with the romance/fantasy film Three Thousand Years, a love letter to fairy tales and myths.
While it may seem like a departure from his previous work, it’s truly something only Miller could have made, and it’s proving to be one of the most original films of the year.
It stars Idris Elba, who has had one of the busiest periods of her career, and this is her fourth major role this year alone. Play Jin (or Genie). She played Alitea, a scholar and writer who lives a lonely life as she grows older, without her speaking family or relationships.
She inadvertently frees the gin from his bottle in which he had been trapped for hundreds of years. He grants her three wishes, but in her full life, she is unable to wish for anything. The rest of the film sees Alitea and Jin swap stories from the past, trying to find out what she wants through lengthy flashback sequences. Most of it takes place in the ancient Middle East, following commonly known folklore and fairy tales. A story told from Jin’s point of view as a fly on the wall.
The film excels at these chapters in Jin’s past, with the story and set pieces feeling authentic and fantastical.The set design is one of the most unique examples I’ve seen in years. and perfectly complements Miller’s eclectic style.
The stories told are very human, with stories of love and betrayal that everyone can relate to, and the film is unafraid to still include mythical creatures and magical powers. contains commonly known characters from previously established folklore and history, such as the Queen of Sheba and the Ottoman Sultan.
At its core, the film is about the different relationships and types of love you can experience in life. Each story revolves around how either Jin or Alitea fell in love throughout their lives and have since passed on to who they are today.
The third act of the film, while still very emotional, felt a little rushed. It felt like it was over before. Where the movie lands in its final moments is truly perfect, but the thematic ideas can be so complex that multiple viewings might benefit.
“Three Thousand Years” is a deeply hypnotic experience, making use of many psychedelic aesthetic choices while at the same time blurring the line between reality and fantasy. The story told throughout is still very compelling, but it’s a movie that emphasizes atmosphere and atmosphere over rigid plot structure.
The camerawork complements this, sometimes literally blurring the edges of the screen to great effect. .
“Three Thousand Years” also explores storytelling and how it connects us with our joys and sorrows, giving us a deeper understanding of the people we care about, or the people we’ve never met. It also talks about how it can be done.
Elba and Swinton deliver powerful performances that are both very vulnerable and sensitive, yet consistently maintain excellent levels of gravitas throughout their careers. It really sells the story.
Tom Holkenborg’s music also helps convey the theme of the film, not only emphasizing the more intense sequences but also supporting the tender ones. It uses ancient Middle Eastern musical instruments and blends them with more contemporary electronic and orchestral sounds.
Overall, “Three Thousand Years of Longing” is one of the best movies of the year so far. Condensing George Miller’s unique voice and aesthetic into a story that might feel familiar, but nothing like it used to. It may feel a little strange and ambiguous to some audiences, but once you surrender yourself to the world it creates, it becomes an extraordinary experience.
The contact information for staff reporter Zaden Dennis is: [email protected] You can see his other reviews at letterboxd.com/Zadenator. To stay up to date with all the news in Southern Illinois, follow the Daily Egyptian at: Facebook When twitter.