Dr. Alithea Binnie (Tilda Swinton) is an academic--content with life and a creature of reason. While in Istanbul attending a conference, she happens to encounter a Djinn (Idris Elba) who offers her three wishes in exchange for his freedom. This presents two problems. First, she doubt's that he is real and second, because she is a scholar of story and mythology, she knows all the cautionary tales of wishes gone wrong. the Djinn pleads his case by telling her fantastical stories of his past. Eventually, she is beguiled and subsequently makes a wish that surprises the both of them.
Others to round out the cast are Aamito Lagum as Sheba, Nicolas Mouawad as King Solomon, Ece Yuksel asGulten, Matteo Bocelli as Prince Mustafa, Lachy Hulme as Sultan Suleiman, Megan Gale as Hurrem, Zerrin Tekindor as Kosem, Ogulcan Arman Uslu as Murad IV, Jack Braddy as Brahim, Burcu Golgedar as Zefir and Alyla Browne as young Alithea.
It was brilliantly directed by the consummate George Miller ("Mad Max" '79, "The Road Warrior" '81, "Twilight Zone: The Movie" (segment: "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet") '83, "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" '85, "The Witches of Eastwick" '87, "Lorenzo's Oil" '92, "Babe: Pig in the City" '98, "Happy Feet" '06, "Happy Feet Two" '11, "Mad Max: Fury Road" '15) plus TV and shorts. By his very resume, one cannot pigeon-hole this director since he has been involved with multiple genres and subject matter. He's done it all: drama, action, animated, which makes him a filmmaker that's willing to take on any challenge. The direction here between Elba and Swinton was touching as it was confronting and these actors knew exactly how far to reach with each scene, and this is amazing directing. If you like his brand of directing, his "Furlosa" is filming at this time and will be released in 2024. It was wonderfully and whimsically written by George Miller ("Mad Max" '79, "The Road Warrior" '81, "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" '85, "Lorenzo's Oil" '92, "Babe" '95, "Babe: Pig in the City" '98, "Happy Feet" '06, "Happy Feet Two" '11, "Mad Max: Fury Road" '15) plus TV and shorts, and Augusta Gore, based on the short story :The Djinn in the Nightmare's Eye" by A.S. Byatt. This is one of those films where you just believe the unbelievable in that the way it's written makes the audience believe what's going on in the story and this is true storytelling. Clearly Miller has the lion's share of the experience here, however I'm sure that Gore's ideas were pivotal. These two actors were an unlikely pair to be in a film, however, the story and its execution of story along with the fact that both Elba and Swinton are consummate actors made this film the film it was. Really, other than a couple of very small issues of inconsistences in plot, this film and its premise was spot on!
If you like fantasy films that have a bit of an edge to them, this film will be for you. Certainly, if you liked "Pan's Labyrinth".as I did, you will be right at home with this. This is not one for the kids which I'm sure was purposed, so leave the kids home. This is a touching and heartwarming story of how a cooped up Djinn and a reclusive narrologist who finds her emotions though the stories she reads, can see things on the same page.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: R 109mins.
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