Overview
- Emily Wilson published a long essay in the London Review of Books that sharply criticizes Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey for thin writing, a gimmicky structure, and underdeveloped characters.
- Wilson, whose 2017 translation Nolan cited as an influence, wrote that she “would be ashamed to have written any part of this script” and argued the film lacks psychological, political and ethical depth.
- The essay singles out the production’s decision to film near Dakhla in Western Sahara as the most troubling ethical problem, saying the shoot risked normalizing the territory’s contested status without Sahrawi consent.
- Wilson’s critique went viral and drove heavy traffic to the LRB, yet audiences and box office figures have stayed strong and industry coverage continues to treat the film as an awards contender.
- The episode has boosted public interest in Homeric translations and classical studies, sharpening debates about how epic texts should be adapted and about responsibility in location shooting.