Robin Williams plays Parry, a homeless man pursuing a modern Grail quest in The Fisher King.
Terry Gilliam’s 1991 film transfers themes from Arthurian legend into contemporary New York. Parry believes that finding the Holy Grail will heal his life, and his quest becomes linked to a wealthy businessman and former radio personality played by Jeff Bridges. The film uses the legend as a framework for guilt, compassion, and redemption rather than presenting a medieval adventure.
Williams’s performance earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama. Mercedes Ruehl won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Anne Napolitano.
The film is sometimes mistaken for a direct retelling of an Arthurian romance. It is instead an original modern story inspired particularly by the Fisher King motif and by the search for the Grail.