Three Thousand Years of Longing

Dr. Alithea Binnie (Tilda Swinton), a literature scholar, seems happy with her life, though she faces the world with a certain skepticism. Suddenly, she crosses paths with a genie (Idris Elba) who offers to grant her three wishes in exchange for his freedom. At first, Alithea refuses the offer, knowing that all tales about granted wishes end badly. The genie defends his position by telling her various fantastical stories from his past. In the end, she lets herself be persuaded and makes a wish that will surprise them both.