"But it is a story."
Tilda Swinton plays a middle-aged academic of narratology who travels to Istanbul for a conference, buys a old souvenir flask and releases an actual djinn, played by Idris Elba, and a battle between logic versus myth, together with a consideration of the power and importance of storytelling, ensues. The film is directed with Miller's trademark bravado and confidence, its own narrative is assured and the film maintains its grip as its tight concept carefully and thoughtfully unfolds. From the moment the djinn is released in a whirl of GCI and grants the customary three wishes, both Swinton and Elba give effective and wonderfully-controlled character performances, delivering their extended duologues with real intelligence, the almost two-hander format punctuated with sumptuously-presented flashbacks of the djinn's long life and experiences. Not only is the basic premise of the film interesting and unusual, but what we also get is a surprisingly restrained, gentle and engaging love story.
No comments:
Post a Comment