Christopher Nolan's adaptation of Homer's epic poem, "The Odyssey," delves into the underworld, offering a unique interpretation of Hades that includes the complex and tragic figure of Clytemnestra, portrayed by Lupita Nyong'o.
Midway through the film, the narrative shifts as Ludwig Göransson's score incorporates synths and an ominous beat, accompanying Odysseus and his surviving men across a bleak landscape. A sacrifice to the gods results in the rising of souls from the dirt, signifying a descent into a hellish realm. Nolan's vision of Hades is characterized by the ascent of the dead into the world of the living, rather than a physical descent into a fiery abyss.
As in Homer's original text, Odysseus seeks the counsel of the blind prophet Tiresias in Hades to find his way home. He also encounters the spirits of fallen Trojan War comrades. Nolan introduces a twist by having Odysseus confront the resentful soul of Sinon, a character from the Roman poet Virgil's "The Aeneid," instead of the legendary Achilles. However, Nolan significantly expands upon Odysseus's conversation with the fallen king Agamemnon, played by Benny Safdie.
The story of the Greek heroes of the Trojan War has been a subject of art and literature for millennia. While Homer's "Odyssey" depicts Agamemnon lamenting his murder to Odysseus, Nolan incorporates details from Aeschylus's "The Oresteia" to add pathos to the scenes involving Clytemnestra's violent revenge upon her husband.
Agamemnon's own past actions serve as a cautionary tale for Odysseus. In most retellings, Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter Iphigenia to the gods to secure favorable winds for the fleet sailing to Troy. He reportedly tricked Clytemnestra by arranging for their daughter to meet the army for a supposed marriage to Achilles, only for it to be a ritualistic killing. Nolan's version includes Clytemnestra's cry of horror during this event, as recounted by Agamemnon.
According to Agamemnon's account to Odysseus, upon his return from the war, Clytemnestra welcomed him home warmly. She helped him remove his armor, bathed him, and anointed him with oil, rendering him vulnerable. Shortly after they retired to bed, she murdered him. Agamemnon shares this story as a warning to Odysseus against assuming a comfortable homecoming.
Later, Menelaus informs Telemachus of the subsequent events, highlighting the tragic cycle within the royal families of Mycenae and Ithaca. Clytemnestra was eventually murdered by her and Agamemnon's son, Orestes. The narrative notes that "The Oresteia" concludes with the goddess Athena establishing legal trials to break this cycle of vengeance, reflecting Athenian values centuries after Homer's "Odyssey."
Nolan's ability to convey the tragic horror of this complex legend within a brief sequence, while simultaneously crafting an inventive take on Hades, is highlighted as a testament to his storytelling prowess. The Hades section of "The Odyssey," as interpreted by Nolan, is described as a remarkable blend of the epic and the intimate, creating a timeless cinematic experience.