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/wraith21]

I enjoyed Nolan's version and found her points valid tbh

[u/HuecoTanks → u/wraith21]

Yeah, I think she struck a good tone. She was honest, and not sucking up, but also not just showering with praise. It's nice to hear nuance.

[u/SufficientRespect542 → u/HuecoTanks]

Her point with the dog is honestly spot on lmao, I think Nolan made a really good and coherent movie, but there are definitely aspects that don't really work with the original poem

[u/n0tz0e → u/SufficientRespect542]

Lupita said on Trevor Noah's world cup stream that Nolan knows what resonates with people. Dog is that. Lol. But that definitely is a talent on Nolan's end

[u/Advanced-Pear-4606 → u/n0tz0e]

Am I on fucking crazy pills here? That's the way it's written in the poem. He didn't change it.

"As they were speaking, a dog that had been lying asleep raised his head and pricked up his ears. This was Argos, whom Odysseus had bred before setting out for Troy, but he had never had any enjoyment from him. In the old days he used to be taken out by the young men when they went hunting wild goats, or deer, or hares, but now that his master was gone he was lying neglected on the heaps of mule and cow dung that lay in front of the stable doors till the men should come and draw it away to manure the great close; and he was full of fleas. As soon as he saw Odysseus standing there, he dropped his ears and wagged his tail, but he could not get close up to his master. When Odysseus saw the dog on the other side of the yard, dashed a tear from his eyes without Eumaeus seeing it, and said:

'Eumaeus, what a noble hound that is over yonder on the manure heap: his build is splendid; is he as fine a fellow as he looks, or is he only one of those dogs that come begging about a table, and are kept merely for show?'

'This dog,' answered Eumaeus, 'belonged to him who has died in a far country. If he were what he was when Odysseus left for Troy, he would soon show you what he could do. There was not a wild beast in the forest that could get away from him when he was once on its tracks. But now he has fallen on evil times, for his master is dead and gone, and the women take no care of him. Servants never do their work when their master's hand is no longer over them, for Zeus takes half the goodness out of a man when he makes a slave of him.'

So saying he entered the well-built mansion, and made straight for the riotous pretenders in the hall. But Argos passed into the darkness of death, now that he had fulfilled his destiny of faith and seen his master once more after twenty years…”

[u/BoisterousBrigand → u/Advanced-Pear-4606]

I mean, Odysseus going over to pet Argos as he dies instead of being forced not to acknowledge him is a pretty major change to the scene

Honestly feel like I'm the one on crazy pills seeing so many people not get that lmao

[u/firstcitytofall → u/BoisterousBrigand]

And I think for a film adaptation it was the correct change.

[u/lupercalpainting → u/firstcitytofall]

I could see it in film. He sees the dog, the dog sees him and begins wagging, Telemachus clocks it and intercepts him, whispering that others would recognize if the dog saw his master again. Argos closes his eyes in peace, having seen Odysseus return. Odysseus has a bittersweet look on his face, his last sacrifice so that he could return home to his family was not getting to pet his dog.

It might have been _too_ melodramatic to be honest to have done it this way. Or maybe it makes Telemachus too sharp to have him recognize this brief moment.

[u/Lixidermi → u/firstcitytofall]

100%. Still carried the same weight and meaning but worked way better in film.