“I am David Lowery, and I adapted and directed The Green Knight. In this scene, Sir Gawain, played by Dev Patel, stops at an apparently abandoned cottage and encounters a spirit named St. Winifred, a real figure in Welsh and Catholic history. St. Winifred was a seventh-century martyr who was beheaded by her suitor when she decided to become a nun. Her head was thrown into a spring, but a saint later reattached it, bringing her back to life. This spring, known as Holyhead or Holywell in Wales, is said to have healing powers. The original text of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight references this location, showing the connection to Welsh culture and geography. The scene was shot in Ireland to evoke an old Hammer horror film aesthetic. Jade Healy recreated St. Winifred’s Cottage for the film, adding a well in front of it. Erin Kellyman portrays Winifred, bringing a striking presence to the role.”
“We shot this scene in one night, capturing a magical atmosphere with perfect weather and eerie fog. The practical effects, like Winifred floating on a dolly, add to the old-fashioned horror feel. Winifred’s conversation with Gawain nudges him towards integrity and chivalry, highlighting the journey he must take. The underwater sequence was inspired by a childhood fear from a made-for-TV movie, Ewoks’ Caravan of Courage. Due to time constraints, we had to scale back the underwater scenes and use miniature work for the cosmic effects.”
