Arlo⸆⸉ 🌙📚✨ :
I am studying Classics for my degree as well, and I watched the film twice. For me I think that Nolan’s adaptation was very selective and to fit his chosen theme, like the fact that Athene was less prevalent, but also depicted in the ways she was, the fact that Hermes wasn’t in it, and Poseidon and Zeus were treated like forces of nature they aren’t truthful to Homer’s Odyssey but it was still a great film. Nolan makes xenia the main theme which was interesting, he definitely doesn’t present the nostos/kleos centred odysseus, like the fact he doesn’t want to go home and then he goes into exile with Penelope didn’t sit right with me, but that was because I was thinking of Homer’s odyssey, and I think what Nolan was focusing on was the raw, human aspect of it. I think it was interesting that he didn’t kill every suitor, or strip Melanthius or hang the maids, mostly because then the point Odysseus was making would fall flat, and it probably would be less digestible on screen for a modern audience. I loved what they did with the Underworld, I still sucked we didn’t see Anticleia but I guess it makes sense on theme with the trajectory of the film. It kinda sucked that they missed out the nobody thing, but I guess Odysseus’ main Metis was the Trojan horse. I saw someone say that it was more like the Iliad which I agree with to an extent. I don’t think the film glazes Odysseus but I feel his character is less complex since he lacks multiple motivations which is not necessarily a bad thing. I was interested to see what Nolan did with the Phaecians and was sad they weren’t included but it made sense considering that role was filled by Calypso and I think it would have had to make Poseidon anthropomorphic and link Xenia to kleos & bring in more fantasy. I thought it was interesting what they did with Helen, but I’m interested to know how you felt considering your opinion on Helen and Menelaus? Overall I thought the movie itself was amazing, but it certainly wasn’t a faithful adaptation, instead it selected aspects of the story to create something more compelling and I suppose applicable to the modern world and more on theme with Nolan’s filmography.
2026-07-24 09:48:50