Three Thousand Years of Longing
Three Thousand Years of Longing

Three Thousand Years of Longing

2022Movie108 minEnglish

A solitary scholar discovers an ancient bottle while on a trip to Istanbul and unleashes a djinn who offers her three wishes. Filled with reluctance, she is unable to come up with one, so the djinn tries to inspire her with his stories.

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IMDb6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes69%
Metacritic60/100
Google Users70%
Director: George MillerGenres: Fantasy, Romance, Drama

Plot Summary

A lonely scholar, while on a trip to Istanbul, discovers a Djinn trapped in a bottle who offers her three wishes in exchange for his freedom. As she considers her choices, she realizes that her desires could lead to profound and unexpected consequences, forcing her to confront her past and the nature of longing itself. The Djinn recounts his long history, showcasing the allure and dangers of wishes throughout human civilization. Ultimately, the scholar must decide whether to embrace the magic or return to her ordinary life.

Critical Reception

George Miller's visually stunning and thematically rich fantasy romance received a generally positive reception from critics, who praised its ambition, performances, and imaginative storytelling. However, some found its pacing uneven and its narrative a bit too abstract. Audiences were similarly divided, with many appreciating its unique approach and visual spectacle, while others found it less accessible.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its visual artistry and imaginative scope, offering a unique and thought-provoking exploration of desire and connection.
  • Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton deliver compelling performances, anchoring the film's fantastical elements with emotional depth.
  • While ambitious and beautiful, some critics found the narrative occasionally meandering and its philosophical themes less impactful than intended.

Google audience: Google users generally appreciated the film's visual creativity and the strong chemistry between the lead actors. Many found the story to be enchanting and memorable, though a segment of viewers felt the pacing could be slow at times.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for Best Film at the Venice Film Festival. Won Best Production Design at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards.

Fun Fact

The film was shot entirely in Australia, with elaborate sets created to evoke the diverse locations mentioned in the Djinn's stories, including ancient Babylon and Ottoman-era Istanbul.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
Nathan

Nathan

I did not have many expectations for _Three Thousand Years of Longing_, but after leaving the theater it left me longing for more. I do not think any individual part of this film was inherently bad. The performances by Idris Elba and Tilda ...
Manuel São Bento

Manuel São Bento

MORE SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS @ https://www.msbreviews.com/ "Three Thousand Years of Longing is one of the most ambitious films of the year. Relying on the genuinely charming, mesmerizing performances of Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton, Geor...
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

"Alithea" (Tilda Swinton) is a solitary scholar who travels to Istanbul to address a conference on the relative merits of myth v science. At the seminar, she starts to hallucinate and the seed is sown that perhaps the mystical is not so far...