Christopher Nolan's recent film adaptation, "The Odyssey," has ignited a significant debate among literary scholars and classicists, drawing criticism for its interpretation of the ancient Greek epic. The controversy centers on the film's perceived emotional emptiness and specific deviations from Homer's original text, particularly concerning "Zeus' Law."
Ivy League scholar Emily Wilson, whose 2017 translation of "The Odyssey" served as an inspiration for Nolan, has been a vocal critic. In separate reviews, Wilson described the film as a "fun, but emotionally empty" popcorn movie and stated she would be "ashamed to have written any part of this script." She specifically took issue with Nolan's handling of "Zeus' Law" and the film's overall thematic resonance.
Wilson's sharp critiques have prompted pushback from some of her peers. Theo Nash, a classicist with a Ph.D. in classical archaeology, called Wilson's arguments "baffling" in a piece for Slate. Nash argued that Wilson's reading of the film lacked the textual attention evident in her translation and that she appeared to be "willfully misunderstanding basic elements of the film’s plot, characters, and themes."
National Book Award winner Joyce Carol Oates weighed in on social media, suggesting Wilson's tone was dismissive and echoed the criticisms she herself has faced for her translation. Oates questioned why a translator, who benefited from Nolan's film, would engage in such language toward others acting in good faith.
Daniel Mendelsohn, a scholar from Princeton and Bard, also expressed reservations in an upcoming review for The New York Review of Books. While acknowledging the film's visual impact and structural ingenuity, Mendelsohn lamented that Nolan omitted crucial moments from the text, such as a reunion with Achilles, in favor of action sequences. He contended that Nolan had "remade Homer’s hero in his own image" and imposed values foreign to Homer's work.
Mendelsohn concluded his critique by referencing Penelope's sentiment from the epic: "The structure is nothing without the people’s respect for its meaning."
Despite the scholarly dispute, "The Odyssey" has achieved significant box-office success since its release on July 17. Concurrently, Emily Wilson's 2017 translation has seen a surge in popularity, climbing to No. 3 on Amazon's best-seller list.
In response to the ongoing discourse, Wilson stated her intention to rewatch the film, expressing a commitment to engaging with the material fully. "I cannot rest from discourse. I will see that film again tomorrow. I will drink life to the lees. Again I will enjoy greatly, will suffer greatly," she wrote.