The Green Knight
Movie, 2021, The 2020s, Set in Camelot
The Green Knight is #22 of 37 in release order and #22 of 37 in chronological order in the A24.
The story
An epic fantasy adventure based on the timeless Arthurian legend, The Green Knight tells the story of Sir Gawain, King Arthur's reckless and headstrong nephew, who embarks on a daring quest to confront the eponymous Green Knight, a gigantic emerald-skinned stranger and tester of men.
The Green Knight recap
The Green Knight (2021) follows Gawain, nephew of the king, who beheads a green stranger at Christmas and must ride out a year later to take the return blow. David Lowery writes, directs and edits this take on the 14th century poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Gawain (Dev Patel) is no knight yet and spends his nights with Essel (Alicia Vikander), a commoner. His mother (Sarita Choudhury), a sorceress, summons the Green Knight (Ralph Ineson), who rises, picks up his head and leaves. When the year ends Gawain sets out with a green girdle his mother says will protect him. Robbers take it and tie him up, the ghost of Saint Winifred asks him to find her head, a fox joins him, and at a castle a Lord (Joel Edgerton) and his Lady, played by Vikander again, test him with a game of trading what each receives. The film stands alone.
The Green Knight ending explained
The Green Knight ends at the Green Chapel. Gawain flinches from the first swing, kneels again, then flees home and sees his future play out: he is knighted, abandons Essel to take their son, marries a noblewoman, becomes a hated king and, besieged and deserted, unties the girdle, and his head falls off. That turns out to be a vision. Back at the chapel, Gawain removes the girdle and says he is ready. The Green Knight praises his courage, runs a finger along his neck and says, "Now, off with your head." The film cuts away before any blow; in the poem, Gawain survives with a nick.
Post-credits scenes
Yes. After the credits, a young girl in an empty hall picks up the crown and puts it on her head.
Where to watch The Green Knight
The Green Knight is streaming on Hulu and YouTube (free) in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 6.5/10, Rotten Tomatoes 88%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Minari, before Everything Everywhere All at Once.
- Chronological order: after Minari, before Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Cast
- Dev Patel as Gawain
- Alicia Vikander as Lady / Essel
- Joel Edgerton as Lord
- Sarita Choudhury as Mother
- Sean Harris as King
- Kate Dickie as Queen
- Barry Keoghan as Scavenger
- Erin Kellyman as Winifred
- Ralph Ineson as Green Knight
- Emilie Hetland as First Thief
- Anthony Morris as Second Thief
- Megan Tiernan as The Young Queen
Directed by David Lowery.