Christopher Nolan's upcoming adaptation of Homer's Odyssey has ignited a culture war, with Elon Musk and others criticizing the casting of Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy. Musk's rant, accusing the filmmakers of 'pissing on Homer's grave,' reflects an absurd insistence on the whiteness of a mythological figure. However, this controversy obscures the film's broader significance: a lavish cinematic treatment of a story that has inspired artists for nearly 3,000 years.
A Timeless Epic Reimagined
Homer's tale of Odysseus's decade-long journey home from the Trojan War has been reinterpreted by Virgil in the Aeneid, relocated to Dublin by James Joyce in Ulysses, and given a feminist twist by Margaret Atwood in The Penelopiad. Now, with a $250m budget following the success of Oppenheimer, Nolan has produced an epic that is old-school in scale. Props and locations, including a formidable Trojan horse, were built practically rather than using green-screen effects. The three-hour Imax version required around 11 miles of celluloid.
Modern Resonance
While the lotus-eaters, cyclops, and enchanting goddesses will captivate audiences, the Odyssey also speaks directly to modern concerns. Its portrayal of exile, longing for home, and the plight of those left behind, such as Penelope, deals with universal human themes. The epic also explores postwar trauma, disillusionment, and dislocation, giving it a notably dark side. Homer describes Odysseus as polytropos, translated by Emily Wilson as 'complicated'—a migrant, poet, loving husband, adulterer, homeless person, pirate, thief, liar, mass murderer, and war hero.
Reactions and Cultural Impact
Reactions to the London premiere suggest Nolan has not shied away from the grim aspects. With the war in Ukraine and migrant deaths in the Mediterranean, some scenes carry uncomfortably modern resonance. Classicists are jubilant, as noted in Mary Beard's blog 'Odyssey fever.' Emerald Fennell's adaptation of Wuthering Heights sparked renewed interest in Emily Brontë, and Nolan's film could do the same for Homer. The pulling power of stars like Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Tom Holland, combined with a wave of new Odysseus reading groups, suggests a positive answer.
Return to the Source
At a time when AI threatens artists, Nolan returns to one of humanity's greatest storytellers. The superhero genre that made his reputation may be waning, but this epic is a fitting tribute to Homer's enduring legacy.
