Sometimes some stories don't get old with time. Instead, their meaning broadens over time.

Three thousand years ago, the poet Homer wrote the story of one such man, who, despite winning a war, could never find peace. And after many setbacks, he finally wanted to return to his own home.

Now, there are only a few days left for that story to hit theaters near you. This time, the person who will take its journey forward is – Christopher Nolan. Who has told stories many times by reversing time. He has shown the audience another dream within a dream. He has shown the world the biggest moral question through the eyes of a scientist. This time, the same Nolan has returned to the story that shaped the early imagination of human civilization.

Odyssey is Nolan's 13th feature film. The film has been described as the most ambitious and technically historic project in modern cinematic history.

Nolan's last film, Oppenheimer, was a box office and critical success. He then joined the project. Nolan produced the film under the banner of Universal Pictures and his company, Syncopation.

 Why is Odyssey becoming such a big topic of discussion in the world of cinema ?

Perhaps the answer is not limited to film. The answer lies in that age-old question that Odysseus was asking three thousand years ago – where is a man ultimately trying to return to?

One war after another

Many of the greatest stories in history have begun with a war. The main story of the Odyssey begins after the war is over. The Odyssey is also considered a continuation of the Iliad , another historical work by Homer.

In the original story of the Odyssey, the Trojan War has just ended. The Greek army has won. But for Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, the real test is just beginning. He wants to return home. He wants to see his wife Penelope and son Telemachus.  

But his journey home is not easy. The sea comes in his way. The gods turn against him. And nature tests his patience.

Thus, on his journey home, he encounters the Cyclops with his eyes, the Sirens with their enchanting voices, the sorceress Circe, sea monsters, and Calypso who offers immortality. Literary critics say that each of these challenges that Odysseus faces symbolizes the inner struggle of the individual.  

Cyclops power be.

Siren be temptation.

Calypso is a relaxing infatuation.

And the sea itself is a metaphor for the uncertainty of life.

So, while the Odyssey is the journey of a king, it is also said to be the journey of a man searching for himself. And this is what is now being brought to the cinema.

A story from three thousand years ago 

If we look at the history of human civilization, many things have changed. We have abandoned horses and started traveling in carriages. We have started studying the constellations. AI has become an integral part of us. Yet for many people, some questions are still the same –

Who am I?

Where am I going?

Where is my home?

This is why it is argued that the Odyssey is still alive , even though it is three thousand years old . Because there is a large group of people who consider the Odyssey to be a story of every era, not a story of any one time or place. Whether a soldier returning from war or a young man searching for his identity – it is said that everyone can see themselves in the journey of Odysseus. 

Why did Nolan return to the old story?

One thing is clear when you watch Christopher Nolan's films - he is more interested in the inner world of people than the outer world.

In Memento , he told the story of a man who lost his memory. In Inception , he created a world within a dream. In Interstellar , he connected time and love with the universe. In Oppenheimer, he showed the conflict between science and morality. Now in Odyssey , he is trying to tell the story of a man who, after traveling the world, finally finds himself.

This is probably another form of his old question – what ultimately makes a person a person?

On top of that, it's a classic epic. So from a filmmaker's perspective, Nolan taking an old story is a risk in itself. Because the audience knows the story.

Anne Hathaway plays Odysseus' wife Penelope and Tom Holland plays his son Telemachus.

They know – Odysseus returns home. Penelope waits. The gods and monsters come. So the question arises – why would the audience go to see the film when they know the ending? Perhaps the answer to this is Nolan’s greatest challenge and success.

Now let's look at a little history. 

The audience knew the end of the Titanic . They knew the history of Oppenheimer . But those stories still captivated the audience. Because directors like Nolan change the experience, not the story. Knowing the story and feeling the story are two different things.

For Nolan himself, this film became one of the most ambitious projects of his career. From every point of view. Because the estimated budget of the film is said to be 250 million US dollars. This figure is the most expensive for him so far. However, the context of how he made the film is more discussed than the money. 

Because this is the first feature film shot entirely on IMAX 70mm film cameras. It's not that he hasn't used IMAX in his previous films like The Dark Knight and Interstellar .

Nolan is a director who believes in real experience over digital technology. He prefers analog cameras over modern digital cameras. That's why he uses real locations, real lighting, and real physical objects whenever possible. That's why the film was shot in Greece, Morocco, Italy, Iceland, and Scotland, on the seas and mountains. 

A scene from a movie.

Unfortunately, there is no IMAX theater in Nepal. This means that even if Nepali viewers want to, they will not be able to fully enjoy this film in Nepal. However, for Nolan, IMAX has always been a medium for storytelling. For example, in this film, the audience will be able to experience a larger frame than usual. When Odysseus is at sea, the audience will be able to feel the vastness of the sea along with the sea.

Those who watch this film while living in Nepal will miss that experience.

Now the pre-booking of this film has opened in Nepal. If you are also going to the theater to watch Odyssey, then it is important to understand one thing in advance – this is not a story of monsters, gods and war. It is not a story of a superhero. This is the story of a man who, despite conquering the world, is fighting his biggest battle within himself. 

Although the plot twists of the film have not been revealed yet, it is possible that Nolan is trying to bring this aspect to the big screen.

Characters in the story

In Greek mythology, Odysseus is the king of Ithaca. He is known more for his wisdom than his strength. He plays a major role in the Greek army's victory in the Trojan War. The famous Trojan Horse is his plan.

The Odyssey is often understood as just the adventures of Odysseus. But there is another important character in it – Penelope. Who is Odysseus' wife. When Odysseus is away from home for years, Penelope waits for him in Ithaca without any self-interest. 

Since Odysseus has not returned home for a long time, many men in Ithaca pressure Penelope to marry him. But Penelope does a wonderful trick. She says that she will finish weaving a cloth first, then she will decide. And she weaves the cloth all day. When night falls, she spoils it again. In this way, she keeps putting it off for years. 

Matt Damon as Odysseus.

Nolan's film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus. Tom Holland as his son Telemachus. Anne Hathaway as Penelope. In addition, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, and Charlize Theron also star.

However, even before its release, Odyssey has been embroiled in controversy over its casting. Some fans are questioning the casting of Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy in particular. Others are questioning the portrayal of ancient Greek characters.

 Director Nolan said that such criticism is nothing new. According to him, similar reactions were also received when Heath Ledger was cast as the Joker in The Dark Knight . But later, Heath's performance was widely discussed. 

Similarly, some are also asking questions like whether it is possible to modernize the myth or not. However, this debate seems to be arising every time the old story is reborn for the new generation, except for Odyssey . In addition, the question of how much Nolan has changed the old story is now on the minds of many. Because over a long period of time, Odyssey has been reinterpreted in different ways. Some have made it an adventure journey. Some have made it a love story, some a story of post-war mental trauma. 

Christopher Nolan and the Odyssey team during filming

Only after watching the film will we know which path Nolan has chosen. But looking at his previous films, we can guess – he is more interested in why it happened than what happened.

Does history repeat itself?

Now, the film is being talked about everywhere, on social media, in the ongoing World Cup, and in malls. Why? Nolan's name itself is one of the reasons.

But this time there is another reason – the genre he chose is the grand historical epic. Which is becoming rare in today’s Hollywood. At one time, such films were made regularly in Hollywood. Lawrence of Arabia , Ben Hur are some examples. But in recent years, with the dominance of digital franchises and superhero films, such original epics have become rare.

Nolan has a track record of giving something to the film industry with every film he makes. Who knows, Odyssey will make history again this time!