28/07/2026 22:08 - Entretenimiento
Christopher Nolan's latest epic, "The Odyssey", has stormed global cinemas, grossing $640 million in its first ten days since its mid-July 2026 release. The film, which follows Nolan's acclaimed "Oppenheimer" (2023), has sparked fierce debate among scholars and critics alike.
Emily Wilson, the classicist whose 2017 translation of Homer's Odyssey was cited by Nolan as a key influence, published a blistering review in the London Review of Books on July 28, 2026. In it, she stated she would be "ashamed to have written any part of that script", describing the narrative structure as "artificial".
"The screenplay is terrible," Wilson declared. "None of the characters have a convincing motivation for their actions or words. There are no sex scenes, and all the food looks horrible."
She further criticized the film for "lacking psychological, emotional, political, and ethical depth." Despite her harsh words, Wilson acknowledged a silver lining: the movie has "brought audiences back to theaters" and boosted sales of Homeric translations, including her own.
While Wilson leads the critical chorus, a different perspective emerges from Argentina. Marta Alesso, professor of classical Greek literature at the National University of La Pampa and author of a monumental Spanish translation of The Odyssey published by Colihue, spoke to local media TN on July 27, 2026 and confessed she thoroughly enjoyed the film.
Alesso called the movie "impressive", but noted significant departures from the original text. For instance, in the film, Odysseus recalls his adventures on Calypso's island, whereas in the poem this happens on the island of the Phaeacians. She also highlighted a major character shift: "Nolan places great emphasis on the ending, when Odysseus is in Troy and laments the bloodshed, feeling guilt. There is none of that in Greek epic—guilt does not exist."
To understand the phenomenon, we must go back to the origins. "The Odyssey" was composed between 850 and 750 BCE in ancient Greece and is attributed to Homer. It is an epic poem recounting the arduous journey of Odysseus back to his kingdom of Ithaca, a voyage that lasts over a decade after the Trojan War.
According to Alesso, it is "the first novel of humanity" due to its complex structure, which includes modern narrative techniques like flashbacks and foreshadowing. Nolan's adaptation boasts a star-studded cast: Matt Damon (Odysseus), Zendaya (Athena), Tom Holland (Telemachus), Anne Hathaway (Penelope), Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong'o, and Jon Bernthal.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
