The Odyssey is breathtaking and deafening
15.7.2026
Translation: Natalie McKay
Monumental, epic and yet deeply human: Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is one of this year’s most eagerly anticipated films – and for good reason. Even though it was almost three hours long, I was still left wanting more.
This is where our spoiler disclaimer usually goes. Since Odysseus’s wanderings are common knowledge and have already been adapted for film several times, I will go into detail about the plot. But I promise to keep it to the essential details. The Odyssey was released in cinemas on 16 July.
The credits roll, and I’m feeling overwhelmed. I’ve just watched The Odyssey, the blockbuster of the summer, which fully deserves its place among the greatest films of all time. Even as I write these lines 24 hours later, I’m still struggling to put what I saw into words. But I don’t have much choice in the matter – someone has to do it eventually.
What it’s all about
After ten years of war against Troy, which Agamemnon’s troops won thanks to a ruse devised by Odysseus (Matt Damon), the King of Ithaca wants only one thing – to return to his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and his son Telemachus (Tom Holland). But whoever incurs the wrath of the gods will be denied a safe journey home. Another ten years pass, during which Odysseus must face various demons, including his own.
Meanwhile, Penelope and Telemachus are having problems of their own. Since the King of Ithaca has been away for so long and may not even be alive any more, a group of suitors – led by Antinous (Robert Pattinson) – is occupying their palace and vying for the Queen’s hand in marriage in an attempt to claim the throne. And they won’t let anything get in their way.
The origins
Homer’s Odyssey is one of the oldest and most important works in literature. But researchers still have no definitive answer to the Homeric Question – that is, whether Homer even existed at all and whether the Odyssey and the Iliad (essentially the prequel) were penned by a single author or by several. There’s general agreement that both epics were written between the eighth and seventh centuries B.C. Both works are divided into 24 cantos.
These stories have been translated into various languages dozens of times over the centuries. For his adaptation of the tale, Christopher Nolan drew inspiration from Emily Wilson’s English translation. Its tone is simpler and more accessible than earlier translations – and that’s exactly the effect Nolan was going for. Language that resonates emotionally with people, rather than overly intellectual poetry. In a nutshell, it’s meant as a down-to-earth story:
«I was maybe being naive,» the filmmaker conceded, «it might bite me on the ass, but I wanted an earthy narrative. To me, it was a no-brainer.»
A reasonable intention, one might think. But the fact that the film uses the word «dad» rather than «father» was enough to trigger some people when the trailer came out, sparking criticism. Tom Holland, who plays Telemachus, had the perfect rebuttal:
«I wouldn’t have even said ‘father’ back in the day, would I? It would’ve been Greek.»
The controversies
In fact, people had been tearing The Odyssey to shreds long before it came out. Historically inaccurate ships, helmets and armour; the wrong skin colour, ethnicity or gender. It’s no surprise that even Elon Musk couldn’t resist weighing in – though, of course, without having seen the finished film, just like all the other online trolls.
There’s no point in going over everything again here; you can find a summary of all the accusations at Swiss online newspaper Watson (linked page in German). I just want to say one thing – Odysseus is a legendary figure, and his journey is a myth from ancient Greece. It’s a work of fiction that can and should be interpreted in different ways. Whether you or I like it or not.
In response to all these discussions, Nolan himself said that all he could do was try to make the best possible film as honestly as possible. And you know what? He totally pulled it off.
«All I can do is make the best film I possibly can in the most sincere way. It’s very different from how anyone else would do it, but that’s what adaptation is.»
Nolan doesn’t do things by halves
The Odyssey is phenomenal in many ways. First and foremost, there’s its audiovisual impact that pins you to your seat and doesn’t let up. Nolan relies on his trusted team – cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema and composer Ludwig Göransson – who deliver the goods as reliably as ever. The sound effects are also epic – waves crashing over a ship, the Cyclops barricading the cave or even just a rumble of thunder. They’re heard frequently, and are usually loud and frantic – yet always perfect for the situation on-screen.
In contrast, there are quiet scenes that give the film the depth it needs to elevate it above an action-fantasy spectacle. After all, The Odyssey is far more than that, just as Odysseus is more than the cunning and daring legendary hero he’s often portrayed as. We see a broken man who’s lost himself. Someone who’s brought guilt upon himself. Someone who wants to save his men at any cost, even if it means leading them to their doom. We witness all of this through the many unpleasant surprises on land and at sea that Odysseus and his crew have to face. But it only truly comes to life in his conversations with Calypso (Charlize Theron), Circe (Samantha Morton), Athena (Zendaya) and the dead.
Source: Universal Studios
The fact that Odysseus is often cited in psychology and psychiatry as a prototype for a war veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder is no coincidence. In his vision, Christopher Nolan gradually peels away the layers until he reaches the core. This makes the mythical figure relatable, human and vulnerable. Zeus’s Law, the sacred commandment of hospitality, is central to this.
Speaking of Zeus – with the exception of Athena, the gods don’t actually appear in The Odyssey, although they’re often mentioned. They manifest themselves as forces of nature, so are always present. That’s fitting for Odysseus, a man who breaks away from the gods, yet is never quite able to escape them.
We have Matt Damon to thank for ensuring that all of this resonates with the audience – he gives an outstanding performance as Odysseus. In fact, every member of The Odyssey’s star-studded cast is at the top of their game. No one stands out for the wrong reasons or seems out of place; everyone’s in exactly the right role for them. I’ve already mentioned a few names; here are some more: John Leguizamo, Mia Goth, Elliot Page, Jon Bernthal, Lupita Nyong’o, Himesh Patel and Benny Safdie.
Source: Universal Studios
Christopher Nolan is renowned for preferring to shoot without computer-generated effects or green screens. Take Tenet (2020), for example – he had a real Boeing 747 crashed. In The Odyssey, too, he avoids using digital effects whenever possible. Nolan spent about three months filming in Greece, Morocco, Italy and Iceland, among other locations. To capture the scenes on the high seas, the cast and crew first had to learn how to row properly. On a real ship in the Mediterranean. As for the giant Cyclops, this was brought to life using a combination of various techniques, ranging from animatronics to puppetry.
And that’s not all – The Odyssey is the first ever film to be shot exclusively using 70 mm IMAX cameras, which was a long-standing ambition of Nolan’s, he’s mentioned in interviews. The IMAX format delivers exceptional image quality, but it posed major challenges for the crew because the cameras were so large, heavy and noisy. Obstacles that they overcame, as the finished film shows. In any case, the effort and the production costs of about a quarter of a billion dollars were well worth it. The 172 minutes fly by. I would even have liked Nolan’s Odysseus to set sail for one or two more islands, just like in Homer’s epic.
I had the chance to see The Odyssey at an IMAX cinema. I recommend you do the same. To do this masterpiece justice in terms of both image and audio, you need the largest possible screen and the best sound system. It’s precisely because of films like this that cinemas should be around for a long time to come.
Source: Universal Studios
In a nutshell
Christopher Nolan has created a film that surpasses even his own best work
Homer’s Odyssey is a masterpiece of storytelling, one of the oldest stories ever recorded in writing. With his interpretation, Christopher Nolan proves once again that he’s one of the great storytellers of his time. To pull off this feat, he relies on a stellar cast, plus visuals and sound that are second to none. I didn’t even notice that The Odyssey was 172 minutes long – there wasn’t a single second of filler or fluff. I would’ve loved to spend even more time immersed in Nolan’s vision.
As a big fan of Greek myths, even going back to my childhood, I can confirm that this monumental epic contains everything that makes them so special. I’m talking monsters, supernatural beings, battles and intrigue. Yet the film never loses sight of what it’s really about – a person on an eventful journey who has to find his way back to himself and come to terms with his actions.
Header image: Universal Studios
I'm a full-blooded dad and husband, part-time nerd and chicken farmer, cat tamer and animal lover. I would like to know everything and yet I know nothing. I know even less, but I learn something new every day. What I am good at is dealing with words, spoken and written. And I get to prove that here.
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