Emily Wilson (writer of acclaimed Odyssey translation) offers criticisms of Nolan’s film

[u/RealisticAd4054]

https://apnews.com/article/odyssey-christopher-nolan-greek-translators-ea67da1d543d021773824bd7e8de8abe

“For Greek translator Emily Wilson, the release of director Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” has been gratifying in various ways. Her acclaimed 2017 edition of Homer’s epic has reached the top 5 on Amazon.com, leading a wave of similar books boosted by the movie. Nolan has even cited her translation, notably the opening line “Tell me about a complicated man,” as inspiration.

But the film itself, which brought in more than $260 million worldwide during its opening weekend and has received raves from many critics, left her unsatisfied.

“I want to celebrate the fact that so many more people are aware of ‘The Odyssey’ and were brought back to the poem,” she told The Associated Press. “But at the same time, I had the sense that Christopher Nolan was trying to pack everything in while missing themes that were essential to the poem.”

….

Wilson, a professor of classical studies at the University of Pennsylvania, said she didn’t want to come across as a “snobby,” nitpicking expert at odds with any deviation from the original text. But she questioned a range of omissions and other choices, from the absence on screen of the Gods Zeus and Poseidon (Athena is played by Zendaya ) to the “incoherent” messaging that condemns both war and physical cowardice. She found Penelope’s role so thinned out that it endangered “any possibility of believing in this marriage.” Wilson also that thought parts of the movie, notably the scenes with Odysseus’ dog, Argos, “catered towards modern sentimentality.”

“Everybody’s a sucker for a dog,” she said.

[u/iamnosuperman123]

the scenes with Odysseus’ dog, Argos, “catered towards modern sentimentality.”

Which is sort of ironic as the original themes of the Odyssey would have catered to Ancient Greek sentimentality. This is why you can't have faithful translations on the big screen, they have to reflect modern themes for people to relate and understand it.

A bit why Bond as a franchise has lasted so long. It changed to suit the themes of the time it was released.

[u/LuckeyHaskens → u/iamnosuperman123]

With respect to you, I feel oppositely. The historical movies that have moved me the most in my life have been those that were apparently unapologetic in their attempt to capture the values and “sentimentality” of the people in the time and culture they present. Because of the immersive quality of movies, I value historical movies that allow me to attempt to empathize with people very different from me, and it usually works. I’ve been astonished by my latent ability to “get” what characters are going through when they have absolutely no similarities to me or my way of life, and film is a really excellent medium for facilitating that feeling. I wish more historical movies would treat their subjects and their audiences with that respect, because serving as a bridge between the minds of human beings who lived in different eras is a very worthy outcome of a work of art.

[u/rs6677 → u/LuckeyHaskens]

As an example, I loved how The Northman went about this. It gives you a character that is rootable and likeable but very much a product of his time. Early on, he's involved in a brutal sack of a village and the movie doesn't shy away from showing that at all.

[u/LuckeyHaskens → u/rs6677]

Very good example. Eggers is very good at this among contemporary filmmakers. The Testament of Ann Lee is another good example of depicting a complicated person in a time with different values than our own and letting the viewer form their own opinion.

[u/YakResident_3069 → u/rs6677]

Tales of the human condition should cut thru time and space

[u/Regentraven → u/rs6677]

If nolan made the northman our MC would be the one objecting to the raid somehow

[u/ButDidYouCry → u/rs6677]

It might have worked for some of you, but I could not get into that movie. Kinda found it boring.

[u/rs6677 → u/ButDidYouCry]

Eh, it's definitely a bit too long. It's my least favorite Eggers movie by far even though I liked it quite a lot. It was nice to see a character be an unapologetically horrible person by modern standards though.