Regarded as one of the most visionary filmmakers of his generation, David Lowery and his films have come to symbolise a renewed interest in artistically minded Hollywood cinema. Although he often works with some of the biggest stars around — for example Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara in A Ghost Story or more recently veteran actor Robert Redford in the gentle crime caper The Old Man & The Gun — Lowery has managed to maintain a commendable creative independence mostly through to working on non studio productions.

In his latest film The Green Knight, the director takes on the medieval legend of Sir Gawain (played beautifully by Dev Patel) in this sumptuous and stunningly composed fantasy retelling of the Arthurian legend. Written by Lowery, the film also stars Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton and Sean Harris.

Sir Gawain (Patel), King Arthur (Harris)’s reckless and headstrong nephew, is ordered by his ailing uncle to embark on a daring quest to confront the eponymous Green Knight, a gigantic stranger who calls upon the court on Christmas day.

The young man is put to the test in a series of trials as he contends with ghosts, giants and petty criminals in what soon becomes a journey to define his strength of his character.

Elevated by Daniel Hart’s haunting score and Jade Healy’s sumptuous production design, The Green Knight can best be described as a psychedelic adventure doubling up as an extended prog-rock music video.

While this might not sound like something most people would be terribly excited about, in true Lowery style, his film works on several levels in the way it broaches themes such as duty, guilt and existential dread.

Patel puts in a gloriously visceral turn as Gawain whom he offers as an angst-ridden young man who has a fatal date with destiny.

Lowery has given us an unapologetic complex art film and his production that is not watered down or affected in any way by the fear of of box office alienation. And for that reason alone, The Green Knight is much more than anyone had bargained for. Truly stunning from start to finish — a really enjoyable work of art. The Green Knight is a real thing of beauty, an experience to savour and rewatch.