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Three Thousand Years of Longing is a 2022 fantasy-drama directed and co-written by George Miller, starring Tilda Swinton as an academic who meets a Djinn played by Idris Elba. When he offers her three wishes in exchange for his freedom, he tells stories from his long existence—and the film turns that exchange into a meditation on desire, storytelling and love.
What is Three Thousand Years of Longing about?
Dr. Alithea Binnie (Swinton), an academic attending a conference in Istanbul, encounters the Djinn (Elba). He offers her three wishes if she will set him free. Alithea is skeptical that he is real, and her knowledge of mythology makes her wary of wishes that may carry a cost.
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Three Thousand Years of Longing [Blu-ray] | $21.17 | Buy on Amazon |
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As he recounts episodes from his past, the film moves between their present-day conversation and stories stretching across centuries. The tales include the Queen of Sheba, a slave girl in the court of Suleiman the Magnificent, and Zefir, a gifted woman confined in a wealthy merchant’s household. The official synopsis describes the setup and says Alithea eventually makes a wish that surprises them both; that is the premise, not a spoiler about how the story resolves. MGM’s film page and the Festival de Cannes listing identify the central characters and setup.
Is the film based on a book?
It is based on A. S. Byatt’s 1994 short story “The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye.” The film is an adaptation of that story, not a novelization of its screenplay. Miller’s production notes say he first encountered Byatt’s story in the late 1990s and that his company acquired the rights later in that decade. The notes also describe how the film retains a frame narrative—a conversation in the present that opens onto the Djinn’s earlier encounters. The production notes provide the source-story and adaptation context.
#1 Best Overall
- 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 doubts 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.
How is it different from Mad Max: Fury Road?
Both films were directed by Miller, but their storytelling approaches differ sharply. In the production notes, Miller contrasts Fury Road’s largely outdoor setting and sparse dialogue with this film’s mostly indoor settings and extended conversation between Alithea and the Djinn. He describes Fury Road as unfolding over three days and two nights, while this story spans three thousand years.
| Element | Three Thousand Years of Longing | Mad Max: Fury Road, in Miller’s comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Mostly indoors | Mostly outdoors |
| Dialogue | A large part of the action happens through Alithea and the Djinn’s discourse | Little dialogue |
| Story timeframe | Three thousand years | Three days and two nights |
These contrasts, quoted from the production notes, describe the films’ form rather than making the fantasy an action sequel or placing it in the Mad Max genre.
Rank #2
What themes shape the film?
The stories-within-a-story structure lets the film consider what people desire, what they believe, and what it means to love. The Festival de Cannes describes it as a philosophical fantasy concerned with human nature, desire and romantic disappointment. Producer Doug Mitchell, in the production notes, calls it a story about “what’s real and what’s fantasy” and, above all, “the mystery of love.”
The film also gives weight to women navigating constraints. Co-writer Augusta Gore says in the production notes that Byatt’s novella comments on “the notion of women operating powerfully from positions of powerlessness.” That idea resonates across the historical tales, where women’s agency is shaped by the worlds and households around them.
Who made the film, and when was it released?
Miller directed and co-wrote the film with Augusta Gore. Elba plays the Djinn and Swinton plays Dr. Alithea Binnie. The Festival de Cannes lists the film as a 2022 Australian production, 108 minutes long, and screened Out of Competition. MGM gives August 26, 2022 as the U.S. release date; it should not be read as the worldwide release date.
- Cinematography: John Seale
- Editing: Margaret Sixel
- Music: Tom Holkenborg, also known as Junkie XL
- Production design: Roger Ford
- Costumes: Kym Barrett
The Cannes listing and production notes provide the credits and festival details.
Where can you watch it?
MGM’s official film page includes a buy-or-rent option. Availability and formats depend on country and can change, so check the page or your local digital storefront for current options.
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