Director Christopher Nolan is facing backlash from Generation Z viewers who accuse him of sexism in his latest film, "The Odyssey." Since the movie's release three weeks ago, social media platforms, particularly TikTok, have been filled with criticism regarding the portrayal of female characters.
Critics are lambasting Nolan, 56, for what they perceive as shallow female roles, stating that he reduces them to "head-nodding bit parts" and objectifies them as "objects of male consciousness." These sentiments have led to videos sharing these views garnering millions of views and likes, with some branding Nolan "the patriarchy's favorite movie director."
The main point of contention surrounds Zendaya's portrayal of the goddess Athena. While in Homer's original text Athena plays a crucial role in facilitating Odysseus's return home, in Nolan's film, the actress, 29, appears on screen for less than five minutes. This is contrasted with Tom Holland's character, Telemachus, Odysseus's son, who has a more significant role.
Further criticisms include the decision to omit the storyline where Odysseus spends a year with the sorceress Circe, played by Samantha Morton, which was a significant part of the original epic. Charlize Theron's character, Calypso, is also described as merely a "foil" for the male lead.
Commentators have pointed to other Nolan films, such as "Oppenheimer," where characters played by Florence Pugh and Emily Blunt are also seen as lacking depth outside of their relationship to male characters. The claim has been made that none of Nolan's 13 feature films, with the exception of "Interstellar," pass the "Bechdel Test," a metric used to gauge female representation in film where two named female characters discuss something other than a man.
Critic Angelica Bastien was quoted by Vulture magazine, stating, "Writer-director Christopher Nolan's genius ends when a woman enters the frame." These critiques highlight a perceived pattern in Nolan's work of underdeveloped female characters, particularly in contrast to his male protagonists.