When a charming house guest (Nicholas Galitzine) arrives at a remote castle, the delicate dynamic between a neglectful husband, his innocent bride Cherry (Maika Monroe), and their devoted maid Hero (Emma Corrin), is thrown into chaos. Based on Isabel Greenberg’s acclaimed graphic novel, this richly imagined medieval fantasy sees loyalty, desire and storytelling collide.

The Garden Cinema View:

Based on the homonymous graphic novel, 100 Nights of Hero reimagines One Thousand and One Nights through a queer and feminist lens. With a theatrical, whimsical aesthetic reminiscent of Orlando, Poor Things, and Peter Greenaway, this parable playfully  explores  gender, sexuality, and power dynamics while addressing  female intellectual repression and society's obsession with reproduction.

The result is highly imaginative, humorous, and notably sensual. Emma Corin delivers a strong lead performance as the non-binary protagonist Hero, complemented by wicked small turns from Charli XCX and a Richard E. Grant, all wrapped in exceptionally surreal costumes.

Despite its considerable merits, the film's narrative threads don't quite cohere to create an emotionally grounded core, and by the final act, the impact somewhat weakens. Nevertheless, this is distinctive filmmaking that shouldn't be dismissed as superficially trendy or merely performative feminism.

Cast:
Emma Corrin, Nicholas Galitzine, Maika Monroe, Amir El-Masry, Charli XCX, Richard E. Grant