What to Know Before Seeing ‘The Odyssey’
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Christopher Nolan's film "The Odyssey," now in theaters, is an epic adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek poem, featuring a nearly three-hour runtime and filmed with IMAX cameras.
- The story follows Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, as he struggles to return home to his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and son Telemachus (Tom Holland) after the fall of Troy.
- The cast also includes Robert Pattinson as Antinous, Penelope's main suitor, and Zendaya as the goddess Athena.
- The film immerses viewers in the final weeks of Odysseus' journey without extensive background, and while many elements are fictional, historians agree the Trojan War likely reflects real conflicts between Greeks and the people of Anatolia.
- The original poem likely combines multiple historical skirmishes, raids, and trade disputes into the legendary decade-long siege of Troy.
