Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gorgeous but talky fairy tale has sex, nudity, murder.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Three Thousand Years of Longing
What's the Story?
In THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF LONGING, Alithea (Tilda Swinton) is a scholar living a content life of solitude. While attending an academic conference in Istanbul, she finds a djinn (Idris Elba), who grants her three wishes in exchange for his freedom. The movie is adapted from A.S. Byatt's short story "The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye."
Is It Any Good?
The reason a film about the art of storytelling is needed is the same reason why this gorgeously shot historical epic can drag a bit. Direct, in-depth, meaningful conversation is frequently being lost in favor of messages delivered in quick bits and bites -- whether that's a clip on social media or fast edits in a film. People are impatient, and listening to long stories -- even when they're illustrated with beautiful and engaging action -- will be boring to some. When combined with the characters' formal way of speaking and occasional dips into ancient languages, it's a safe bet that you can count most teens out.
With Three Thousand Years of Longing, George Miller has created a fairy tale for adults. As the djinn tells tales of his past wish-grantees, the movie explores the sometimes intertwining notions of love and freedom. The djinn tells story after story of men and women who are trapped by circumstance but don't take the way out, even when it's offered. There are very few adults who don't know someone like that. Full of deep thoughts, depictions of all kinds of love, and explorations of how patriarchal environments are limiting to both women and men, Miller offers rich material for (yup) direct, in-depth, and meaningful conversations. While the perpetual narration might make you wish occasionally for the 1,000-year version, it's likely you'll be talking about this movie for months.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why versions of the "three wishes" story have been told over thousands of years. Is it always a cautionary tale? How does the idea play out in Three Thousand Years of Longing?
What makes someone a good storyteller? How do you keep a listener engaged? How does someone telling you a story differ from reading a book with pictures? And how does that differ from watching a story on the screen? Why is good communication an important life skill?
How does the film explore the idea of women operating powerfully from positions of powerlessness? What does this tell us about women's agency through history? What can we do to build and strengthen female voices?
If you had three wishes, how would you use them? What is your "deepest desire," and why do you want it?
Discuss all of the traditionally underrepresented groups you saw on screen here. Why is representation important?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 26, 2022
- On DVD or streaming : November 15, 2022
- Cast : Idris Elba , Tilda Swinton , Pia Thunderbolt
- Director : George Miller
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : United Artists
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Book Characters
- Character Strengths : Communication
- Run time : 108 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some sexual content, graphic nudity and brief violence
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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