#MovieReview: Three Thousand Years of Longing – a fairy tale for adults

Spanning millennia of history from the comfort of a single hotel room, Three Thousand Years of Longing is a love letter to the power of imagination.

The film is the long gestating modern fairy tale from one of Hollywood’s noisiest and most prominent image makers, George Miller.

Following Mad Max: Fury Road, which contains singular depictions of post-apocalyptic beauty, it is no surprise that the Australian master would be drawn into Years of Longing like a child into a storybook.

The overarching narrative device of the film, where a Djinn (akin to a Genie) is released from a bottle to regale his saviour with tall tales, is the perfect opportunity for Miller to flex his ability.

It gives him the chance to re-imagine sprawling legends from history while showing the power of the modern world through a magical realist lens.

One cannot help but leave with the impression that Miller has entire worlds in his mind, just waiting for their own reason to emerge.

Mild spoiler to follow
Years of Longing follows renowned narratologist (someone who studies stories) Dr. Alithea Binnie, who is played with a simmering intellect by Tilda Swinton.

After a lifetime of engaging with the power that stories have held through history, Binnie is a cynical expert on the various magical beings that emerge throughout.

But perhaps there is a reason that almost every culture on Earth has myths that overlap, common among them being the powerful Djinn who grants their finder three wishes.

When trying to clean a colourful bottle bought in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, Binnie inadvertently releases said being, in the form of a 15-foot-tall Idris Elba.

You could be forgiven for thinking that this was a result of her first wish, but it seems she just lucked out.

To convince her to make three wishes – which will set him free at last – Djinn tells stories of his past, which include the Queen of Sheba and Ottoman sultans, among many other historical figures.

Of course, adding another story to his catalogue, the two soon develop a mutual attraction.

Although they have legitimate chemistry, the final act of the film lets down the sprawling promise of its frequent trips into antiquity.

It can also be messy in the scope of its ambition and execution.

But Years of Longing does not overstay its welcome at just over 90 minutes, and the uniquely maximalist depictions of mythology and history are highly watchable.

Rated 16 for scenes of Sex, Nudity and Violence.
3.5/5.

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