100 Nights of Hero is a delightfully queer, deadpan, lushly realised and proudly feminist tale that sings through its originality and devilishly good performances.
Stories are important; they shape our world, our sense of identity and self, and they create moments of revolution and change that alter the very foundations of human life. From the dawn of humanity, whether in tapistry, paint, the written word or music, stories have kept our world turning. Yet, some people, communities and groups are often missing from the stories handed down over the centuries. Just for a moment, think back to the legends of your childhood, the stories formed over time and passed down through history, from Robin Hood to King Arthur; most centre around men. Throughout history, the same issue arises: women, their experiences, and their history have often been relegated to the shadows, while men have remained the dominant force.
In 2016, Isabel Greenberg’s graphic novel ‘The One Hundred Nights of Hero’ transported us to a fictional Early Earth and, inspired by tales of Scheherazade, celebrated female storytellers, sexuality, the power of words and the ability of those words to shape our world. Now Julia Jackman (Bonus Track) brings that story to the screen in the lush, visually striking, beautifully written and performed 100 Nights of Hero.
The once-beautiful paradise of Early Earth, created by Kiddo (Safia Oakley-Green), has been twisted by her despotic father, ‘Birdman’ (Richard E. Grant). To control the newly created humans, Birdman has used his power to instil fear of him and his words. Now the world is ruled by a patriarchal religious order built in his image, the ‘Beak Brothers.’ It is a world where women are forbidden from reading or writing, queer people don’t exist, and men carry all the power.
In a large castle, full of stately rooms and surrounded by manicured lawns and deep, lush forests, a young woman named Cherry (Maika Monroe), like so many women in the kingdom, is imprisoned in a marriage that holds no love. Her husband, Jerome (Amir El-Masry), isn’t interested in her and has no intention of consummating the marriage. For Cherry, this lack of interest means no heir, and that spells death at the hands of the Beak Brothers unless she conceives in 100 days. Thankfully, despite her plight, Cherry has the support of her maid, Hero (Emma Corrin), a confident, loving, and quick-witted woman who comes from a long line of storytellers who have long sat in the shadows under the oppression of their male rulers.
One night, as Jerome lies in bed pondering the tricky question of Cherry and his lack of interest in her, an unexpected visitor opens a possible door of escape for him. His charming, buff and irresistible friend Manfred (Nicholas Galitzine) has arrived seeking counsel, beer and conversation, and Jerome is only too happy to entertain him.
As they discuss women, sex, money and control, a bet quickly develops. Jerome will go away on business for 100 nights, and Manfred will stay in the castle. If Manfred woos Cherry, he may keep the castle and everything in it, except Cherry, who will be put to death for her infidelity. But if Jerome wins and Manfred’s charms do not work, he must seek out a male baby, from wherever he likes, to become Jerome’s heir. And so begins our tale of 100 nights, a bet, a woman who has never been touched, a man far too horny for his own good and a maid who is about to change the world.
Beautiful in its design and vision, 100 Nights of Hero is a fascinating hybrid mix of 17th-century Britain, classic fairy tales, queer history, and feminism. In creating this world, it’s as if Julia Jackman is channelling Derek Jarman, Sally Potter, Rob Reiner, Terry Gilliam and Wes Anderson all at once, in a tale that embraces multiple genres from comedy to romance to tragedy.
The short 90-minute runtime could have led to sizable changes to the graphic novel’s narrative arc, but apart from some minor tweaks, Jackman’s film honours Greenberg’s book throughout. 100 Nights of Hero is a delightfully queer, deadpan, lushly realised and proudly feminist tale that sings through its originality and devilishly good performances. It’s a celebration of storytelling, female empowerment, queer love, and art that is, without doubt, among the year’s most unique movies. Every minute of 100 Nights of Hero is a charm, from the outstanding performances of Corrin, Galitzine, and Monroe to the narration by Felicity Jones, a cameo from Charli XCX, and the striking costume designs by Susie Coulthard.
Of course, like any good fairytale, there is a bittersweet ending to this soulful, funny, tender and wonderfully creative movie. But its message is clear: heroes don’t always wear capes; they are ordinary yet extraordinary people full of courage who embrace knowledge, art, and words as they attempt to carve new worlds. They are the women who have fought the patriarchy throughout the centuries, queer people who have fought for their freedom, and the oppressed who dared speak truth to power. 100 Nights of Hero, through humour, love, fantasy, storytelling, and art, asks us to uncover hidden histories and bring them into the light, sharing the stories of all those heroes who are too often overlooked in history and literature.
100 Nights of Hero will arrive in UK cinemas in early 2026
Follow Us