Odysseus, a war veteran of the Trojan War, makes his way back home, and his journey has arguably a score that interprets his actions. But Christopher Nolan’s take has received much attention recently.
That is because, in summer, the noted filmmaker directed The Odyssey, capturing the struggle of the Ithacan warrior.
But it was met with criticism from a number of experts who questioned Nolan’s take on Odysseus.
Yet, Matt Damon, who essayed the role, in a recent Q&A session, remained attached to the storyline and also spelt out his director’s view on the Trojan War veteran.
“His adaptation made it really clear what he wanted: that weariness, that regret, that shame. It’s this foundational story in Western literature.”
Even Damon said he was surprised when he learned Nolan wanted him to portray Odysseus, as he wasn’t necessarily keen to return home.
“And it’s about homecoming, and this idea, this kind of twist, that he wasn’t actually ready to go home was kind of shocking from an academic standpoint,” he said.
Admitting he was shocked, Damon said the story about Odysseus unearthed the psychological impact of the journey on him, rather than presenting homecoming as an adventure.
“When I got to that line the first time I read the script, where Annie says, ‘You were the people from the sea,’ I literally just put the script down for a second. I was very shocked.”
The Odyssey, since its release, has received much applause from critics and audiences and has grossed nearly $2 billion.
