How Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’ fascinates filmmakers, including Christopher Nolan

Here are some of the movies based on Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’

Universal Studios announced that Christopher Nolan will helm a film adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey, the classic Greek epic that narrates Odysseus’ challenging voyage back home after the Trojan War.

The epic poem was written in Greek approximately between 750 and 650 BCE. It narrates the decade-long journey of Odysseus as he strives to return to his homeland, Ithaca, following the events of the Trojan War. The narrative delves into a world populated by gods, mythical creatures, and intricate legends, centering on the Greek hero Odysseus, the king of Ithaca.

Set against the backdrop of Ancient Greece, the tale intertwines the fates of deities, mortals, and monsters. The story begins with Odysseus imprisoned on the island of Ogygia, a decade after the Trojan War. Although the gods assist him in his escape, sea-god Poseidon causes him to be shipwrecked on Scheria. Odysseus’s voyage home is fraught with numerous challenges and dangers. The Odyssey is regarded as a cornerstone of Western literature and remains as one of the earliest literary works that continues to be widely read.

The first English translation of the Odyssey appeared in the 16th century, and the work has inspired countless adaptations and reinterpretations across diverse media, including numerous theatrical productions and films.

Here are some of the movies based on The Odyssey:

1. The 2011 Canadian film ‘Keyhole’, directed by Guy Maddin.

2. The Italian film ‘The Lion of Thebes’, released in 1964, written and directed by Giorgio Ferroni.

3. ‘The Mysterious Island’, a French silent short film from 1905, created by Georges Méliès.

4. ‘Nostos: The Return’, an Italian adventure drama film from 1989, directed by Franco Piavoli.

5. ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’, a 2000 satirical comedy-drama musical film, was written, produced, co-edited, and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, and is loosely based on The Odyssey.

6. ‘L’Odissea’, a 1911 Italian silent film, an adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey.

7. ‘The Return’, a drama film set for release in 2024, directed by Uberto Pasolini and featuring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, retells the concluding sections of Homer’s Odyssey as adapted by Edward Bond, John Collee, and Pasolini.

8. ‘The Return of Ringo’, a 1965 Italian film directed by Duccio Tessari

9. ‘Ulysses’, a 1954 fantasy-adventure film directed by Mario Camerini, who co-wrote the screenplay with Franco Brusati

10. ‘Ulysses Against the Son of Hercules’, a 1962 peplum film directed by Mario Caiano

11. ‘Ulysses’ Gaze’, a 1995 internationally co-produced war drama film directed by Theo Angelopoulos

Published - December 24, 2024 12:28 pm IST