Three Thousand Years of Longing (2022)

THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF LONGING is the story of a lonely scholar, Alithea (Tilda Swinton), who finds a Djinn (Idris Elba) while on vacation in Istanbul. The Djinn needs her to make three wishes so that he can be free.

The movie is visually stunning and the philosophical and psychological concepts about loneliness, desire, and what we wish for are interesting but superficially explored. The pacing is slow, and the plot is not particularly original or exciting. The individual stories about the Djinn’s past are unexciting and the constant narration made me feel like I was listening to a story being read to me rather than watching a film. And Swinton and Elba don’t have much chemistry which makes for an unengaging story.

Overall, I was disappointed with THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF LONGING. It’s not a bad film, but it’s not a great one either. If you’re looking for some lightweight entertainment you might enjoy it. But if you’re looking for an exciting and original story, you’ll be disappointed.

(In cinemas in Australia – check your movie guide for your local show times.)