NEW YORK – Emily Wilson, a prominent Greek translator, is experiencing a surge in recognition following the release of Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated film, “The Odyssey.” Her celebrated translation of Homer’s epic, published in 2017, has catapulted into the top 5 on Amazon, thanks in part to the film’s promotional momentum. Notably, Nolan has acknowledged Wilson’s work, citing her translation’s evocative opening line, “Tell me about a complicated man,” as a source of inspiration.
While Wilson appreciates the newfound interest in the classic poem, she expressed disappointment with how the film interprets the original text. “I want to celebrate the fact that so many more people are aware of ‘The Odyssey’ and were brought back to the poem,” she shared with 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.”
Starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, and Tom Holland as Telemachus, “The Odyssey” has been lauded by critics for its compelling performances and grand narrative scope, shot entirely in IMAX. Reviewers have noted Nolan’s unique ability to blend the sensibilities of ancient Greece with contemporary themes, though this has sparked debate among scholars and critics regarding the fidelity of the adaptation.
Wilson and fellow translator Daniel Mendelsohn both acknowledge Nolan’s cinematic ambition and style, with Mendelsohn describing it as “great visual panache.” However, they caution that the film may stray too far from Homer’s intent. Mendelsohn, an author and critic, articulated his concerns in The New York Review of Books, noting that while he previously defended Nolan’s casting choices—which included the decision to cast Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy—he believes the portrayal of Odysseus misses critical aspects of his character.
“This tormented, guilt-ridden Odysseus, stripped of humor and wit, seductiveness and cleverness, is a sibling of Memento’s anguished amnesiac, of Batman, of Oppenheimer, men tormented by pasts they wrestle with in different ways,” Mendelsohn critiqued. He argues that Nolan’s interpretation leans too heavily on his signature style, transforming Homer’s clever hero into a more tortured figure.
Wilson, a professor of classical studies at the University of Pennsylvania, expressed her desire to avoid coming off as a “snobby” expert who nitpicks deviations from the original text. Yet, she raised concerns about several omissions and creative choices, including the absence of major gods like Zeus and Poseidon, and a muddled moral message that seems to condemn both war and cowardice. She found Penelope’s role significantly diminished, complicating the believability of her marriage to Odysseus. Furthermore, she felt that some scenes, particularly those involving Odysseus’s dog, Argos, catered more to modern sentimentality than to the original narrative’s depth.
“Everybody’s a sucker for a dog,” Wilson quipped regarding the emotional appeal of that particular storyline.
While a spokesperson for Nolan did not respond to requests for comment, Wilson refrained from assigning a grade to the film. However, she did encourage audiences to experience it in theaters for its visual spectacle. “It was fun to be there with my kids. I didn’t feel it was pulling teeth to engage with it,” she remarked. “If you can see it on a big screen you should absolutely go.”
