'The Odyssey' Is an Epic Adaptation Worthy of Homer’s Poem

This week, It Was an Epic Poem First! Sophie and Rudi discuss one of the most anticipated adaptations of the year: “The Odyssey,” director Christopher Nolan’s take on Homer’s epic poem. The blockbuster adaptation of the ancient Greek work follows Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, on his long journey to return home after the Trojan War. Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Elliot Page, Zendaya, and Lupita Nyong'o are just some of the stars who help bring this 3,000-year-old epic to the screen. Before talking about the film in detail, Rudi and Sophie share their general thoughts on Nolan’s take (00:04:03) and briefly detail the histories (00:08:15) behind the poem, Emily Wilson’s 2017 translation, Nolan’s adaptation, and prior attempts to bring “The Odyssey” to screens.Then they have a spoiler-filled chat (00:29:28) about “The Odyssey,” tracking the long journey Odyessus takes throughout the nearly three-hour epic while detailing some of the major (and subtle) changes Nolan made to Homer’s poem: the opening scene; the Cyclops battle (00:47:00); the breathtaking Trojan horse and Troy scene (00:52:46); Circi’s island (01:01:41); and the final conclusion (1:21:15). Along the way, they explore why Nolan’s choices served the movie and the story, the impressive filmmaking craft on display, why Damon’s Odysseus is very different from the trickster in the poem (01:17:48), and how the film is in conversation with our modern times.Finally, Rudi makes his choice (01:30:03) for which he liked better: listening to Claire Danes narrate the Wilson translation of “The Odyssey” or watching Nolan’s film. We’ll continue discussing “The Odyssey” in our next episode, which will feature a conversation with professors who have studied Homer’s work and teach it to college students. It Was A Book First is the podcast about new book-to-screen adaptations. Subscribe now to get new episodes delivered weekly on Wednesdays. Follow us on Instagram: @itwasabookfirstpodTikTok: @itwasabookfirstYouTube: @itwasabookfirstpodcastEmail: itwasabookfirst@gmail.comHosts and producers: Sophie Vershbow and Rudi GreenbergEditing: Rudi GreenbergSocial media: Sophie VershbowMusic: Cliff Blum and John Connelly; music production: Kevin PonsLogo: Trisha Louise PrietoWebsite: Kevin Pfab