I saw snippets of David Lowery's 'The Green Knight' throughout its development, and while I typically try to avoid trailers and reading articles and reviews on films these days, I was compelled to know more by the beauty of the individual frames I was seeing. As the months went by, the film was finally released; a common sentiment I was seeing was that it was "too dark" or "slow and boring". While the first is a genuine criticism, I tend to void opinions that a film is too slow, and often consider it to be a filter.
Despite having no expectations of the film, and having forgotten about its release, I have been aware of David Lowery's skills as a director from his prior works of which I've rather enjoyed. He holds a very artistic style that is considerate and highly appealing visually; the slow, fragile approach to 'A Ghost Story', as well as the telling of a story of youth and embracing it into old age in 'The Old Man & the Gun' come to mind. His films, whether holding some elements of the supernatural, unrealistic, and now fantasy, speak of what it means to be human and the grounded, few emotions we have that force us forward.
The Green Knight
In this film, adapted from a story from the late 14th century, Lowery takes on the emotion of cowardice, in which a knight takes upon the challenge of beheading the Green Knight who declares that the knight who accepts the offer and takes action, will also receive an equal blow one year later. The knight spends the year being hailed a hero, having established fame for being the one to behead the Green Knight, while having no consideration for the inevitable call to action he will face as the year draws to a close.
As the year does come to its end, the knight is reminded of his agreement with the Green Knight, a mystical being that now awaits him at the distant Green Chapel. For Gawain, our knight, his cowardice is finally displayed. Though he accepts that he must leave.
A knight and his chivalry
As is common of old tales, chivalry is a code to live by for knights. They're tested of their chivalry and only if they succeed during those tests are they considered to be a true knight. In Gawain's case, he may have the title of a knight, but has never been tested of his chivalry. His call to action to receive an equal blow from the Green Knight is precisely that test, however, Gawain is scared. A knight that has not seen a true challenge before, which becomes evident as he embarks on his travels to the Green Chapel.
The film displays this travel in a truly dreamlike stature. The cinematography is slow, it follows Gawain in long sequences of simplistic movements, and ones where we're fixed on his face, seeing his emotions and fears come to light as his travels result in smaller challenges he must overcome. In this supernatural world, it works excellently. The colours, the gentle music, and the ambience of it all look deeper into Gawain, showing just how out of his depth he really is.
Some of these smaller challenges as he travels being minor tests of chivalry: "Why would you ask me that? Why would you ever ask me that?" asks the ghost of a girl requesting that Gawain enter a pond to return her skull so that she may finally rest. Gawain asking moments before what she could possibly do for him in the event that he does retrieve her skull. We see similar moments throughout the film, where those who stumble into Gawain see the knight in his armour, but Gawain fails to uphold the reputation he receives.
The growth of Gawain
As Gawain faces different challenges, we see him in a different way. The camera itself even reflects this with more appreciative angles of his character. We see his fear still, but an understanding of what he must do, and where he must go. There's growth in this adventure, he's finally discovering who he is, and what he is capable of. He is finally acting more as a knight should. The camera movements and the cuts have picked up in pace a bit more, he's know longer feeling the dread of what awaits ahead, but is actively searching for it.
The colours also begin to shift, as even his clothing is darkened and aged by his travels. A sign of maturity in his character. There's an advancement in the environment and its colours, too. The locations become more mystical, more beautiful but also seemingly more dangerous as he grows closer to his destination. This growth is excellently portrayed by actor Dev Patel, where he's fully capable of displaying these emotions and sense of mystery as his character searches for the discovery of the self.
Alongside David Lowery's truly beautiful imagery in this world he's created, the two have certainly created a very special film that is highly worth watching for the visuals alone, but fortunately, there's a narrative to go with it which is just perfected. Both respecting its source material from centuries prior and amplifying its tale of traditional values of chivalry and adventure.
