Uberto Pasolini's The Return

(See also Homer’s Odyssey)

I watched this on Aug 1, 2026, after having watched Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, and reading Emily Wilson’s review which was fairly critical of it.

  • I sort of see Wilson’s point now, this version is much more moving than Nolan’s, much slower, “more human”—though what does that really mean?
  • The first scene between Penelope and Odysseus is quite powerful. But then when she tears up the shroud, it is a bit melodramatic, could have done with less swelling string music. The scene with the old servant/slavewoman immediately after is a bit odd, I was given to think that P had (at least on some level?) recognized O. But he seems to think she hasn’t? Also does he really need to tackle the old lady into the ground?
  • This is a pretty different Odysseus than Nolan gives us, here is more concerned with memory, loss, forgiveness, the bad things he’s done, more introspective, less cunning it seems. This of course does not necessarily mean this depiction is more authentic.
  • The scenes with Argos, with Odysseus’ old nurse Eurycleia, and with Penelope at the end are so much more touching/moving than in Nolan’s film. To simplify: Nolan’s is an action movie, this is a drama.
  • Telemachus is not well-portrayed, imo, the shortcomings are similar to that of Nolan’s film, in that he is just a bit whiny and sniveling.