Film Review: THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF LONGING (2022): George Miller’s Film Plays Like an Art House Movie with Grand Ambitions

Three Thousand Years of Longing Review

Three Thousand Years of Longing (2022) Film Review, a movie directed by George Miller, written by George Miller, Augusta Gore and A.S. Byatt and starring Tilda Swinton, Idris Elba, Pia Thunderbolt, Berk Ozturk, Anthony Moisset, Alyla Browne, Abel Bond, Peter Bertoni, Lianne Mackessy and Aamito Lagum.

Idris Elba plays a Djinn (picture something pretty much like a genie) in filmmaker George Miller’s ambitious story of the bond between a professional woman (a narratologist) named Alithea (Tilda Swinton) and her newfound partner in life, the Djinn. This movie is called Three Thousand Years of Longing which is a remarkably told story of suppressed passions and unfulfilled emotions. This film is very intellectual from an existentialist standpoint and could inspire some thought-provoking conversations afterwards which makes it an ideal date movie. Unfortunately, it’s not Miller’s best work but the two central players deliver compelling enough performances in very complex roles.

The movie’s main story begins as Alithea makes her way to Istanbul to lecture more or less. She’s joined in her hotel by the Djinn who breaks free from his trappings and asks Alithea to make three wishes. Alithea must be the hardest living woman to get three wishes from because it takes the duration of the majority of the movie before she even makes her first wish. The film’s premise is set up a bit like a framing device for old stories surrounding the history of the Djinn’s bad luck. I expected more action to happen between the Djinn and Alithea than what actually does occur in the film but that, surprisingly, is the movie’s main asset.

Elba’s poor Djinn can’t even get a pregnant woman who is about to be killed to make a wish for her own survival back in the genie’s prime days which the movie showcases to the audience. It’s almost like a shaggy dog story at times because of its inane yet heartbreaking plot developments. Underneath the ridiculous nature of supporting characters’ motivations, though, lies an impressive gamut of material which is covered in the movie’s brief running time (it clocks in at 108 minutes).

There is a male character in the picture’s flashback sequences who prefers to be with very heavy (in terms of their weight) women and the movie treads on Miller’s typical obscure territory in some of these scenes. Miller is no stranger to portraying oddball scenarios in his films and in this one, there are plenty of situations that play out with surprise because of how little is accomplished by the occurrences that happen throughout the movie. After each incident occurs, we’re back to the characters of the Djinn and Alithea who form a very touching friendship as a result of the stories they share with one another about their lives (mostly regarding the Djinn’s life).

With the movie’s portrayal of the Queen of Sheba (played to perfection by Aamito Lagum), the movie gets some exciting early scenes brewing but the movie ultimately hits a bit of a rough patch in the midsection of the picture until the film picks up steam as Alithea tries to sneak her Djinn onto a plane and get through security which is easier said than done. Well, it proves not to be too hard actually but in the mindset of Alithea who is the very definition of neurotic, it is quite the challenge. Speaking of neurotic real-life people (living or dead), the Djinn actually pulls none other than Albert Einstein out of a television set in the early stages of the picture in a hilarious scene.

While the relationship between Swinton and Elba’s characters in the movie is well developed, I was reminded of the superior recently released film, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande by these characters here. Swinton’s role has some similarities to Emma Thompson’s part in that gem of a film because both women are lonely and seek companionship yet thrive on their own as well. Swinton loses herself in her character in the new picture and creates a memorable relationship with the Djinn just as Thompson developed one with a male prostitute in the other aforementioned picture. I won’t tell you if the Djinn and Alithea get it on in this movie but it’s a definite possibility.

Three Thousand Years of Longing is about two very lonely people (let’s call the Djinn a person for argument’s sake) and it’s saddening to see their dreams get thwarted by reality throughout the course of the movie. Eventually, there is a silver lining in the movie’s concluding scenes, but it feels like a tacked-on conclusion to a much harder picture that could have been made from the same material.

Elba and Swinton are always fantastic and create fascinating characters here nevertheless under Miller’s accomplished direction. There isn’t a lot of action in the scenes outside of the flashbacks and that’s exactly the point of the movie which was a bit of a problem for me. However, those two lead performances make it all worthwhile for those demanding a challenging film that will have audiences talking afterwards.

Rating: 7/10

Leave your thoughts on this Three Thousand Years of Longing review and the film below in the comments section. Readers seeking to support this type of content can visit our Patreon Page and become one of FilmBook’s patrons. Readers seeking more film reviews can visit our Movie Review Page, our Movie Review Twitter Page, and our Movie Review Facebook Page. Want up-to-the-minute notifications? FilmBook staff members publish articles by Email, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest, and Flipboard.