Christopher Nolan's new adaptation of The Odyssey has stormed the box office, grossing $264 million in its opening weekend. However, celebrated classicist Mary Beard tells host Carter Sherman on the podcast Stateside with Kai and Carter that while the film delivers action-packed battle scenes, it misses the original's 'elusive sexiness' and leaves her disappointed in its approach to women.
Missing the Erotic and the Female Perspective
Beard argues that Homer's epic poem is suffused with a subtle, elusive eroticism that Nolan's film largely omits. She notes that the original Odyssey is deeply concerned with female characters like Penelope, Calypso, and Circe, who are complex agents in their own right. In Nolan's version, however, these women are reduced to supporting roles, stripping the story of its nuanced gender dynamics. According to Beard, 'The poem is as much about female power and desire as it is about male heroism, and that gets lost.'
Rightwing Co-opting of the Ancient World
Carter and Beard also explore why rightwing politicians and figures like Elon Musk are so obsessed with co-opting the ancient world. Beard explains that the classics have long been used to legitimize power structures, from the Roman Empire to modern-day political rhetoric. She warns against simplistic readings of ancient texts that serve contemporary agendas, asking, 'Who gets to own the classics?' The conversation delves into how the Odyssey itself has been weaponized by various groups to promote ideals of masculinity, empire, and conquest.
Nolan's Blockbuster vs. Homer's Epic
Despite the criticism, Beard acknowledges Nolan's film as a spectacular piece of cinema. She praises its visual grandeur and the director's ability to translate epic scale to the screen. However, she emphasizes that the Odyssey is fundamentally a poem about homecoming, cunning, and the complexities of human relationships, not just a series of battles. 'The film is thrilling, but it's a different beast from the poem,' she says. The discussion highlights how adaptations inevitably reshape source material, often losing the subtleties that make classics enduring.
