Emily Wilson Critiques Nolan’s Adaptation of The Odyssey

Emily Wilson, a noted feminist writer, recently shared her thoughts on Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of the ancient Greek epic, The Odyssey, during an event with Sarah Ruhl at the 92nd Street Y in New York City on July 16. Her feedback wasn’t particularly positive.

In the lead-up to the film’s release, critics had already voiced concerns over its promotional materials, which hinted at a heavily revised narrative based on Wilson’s left-wing feminist translation of the original text. Wilson felt that Nolan’s interpretation strayed too far from the source material, to the point that even feminist perspectives were left wanting.

When asked if Nolan’s film could be viewed as anti-war, Wilson expressed skepticism. She suggested it wasn’t explicitly against war, but noted that Nolan portrayed Odysseus as a conflicted, neurotic figure dealing with the psychological aftermath of his wartime experiences.

Wilson observed that Nolan’s Odysseus seemed burdened by guilt and struggling to cope with his past—almost as if he needed modern psychiatric help and medication to process his trauma.

She found it rather disappointing that the film depicted Odysseus as someone who seemingly detested his warrior identity, which detracted from the heroic aspects traditionally associated with the character.

Further along in the discussion, Wilson lamented that Nolan had neglected Odysseus’ legendary quest for glory, instead framing the hero in a narrative of shame. “It feels like Nolan is moving away from Homer’s intention here,” she remarked, noting that while the film may touch on themes of shame, it fails to capture the essence of glory.

This isn’t the first instance of Wilson expressing disapproval of Nolan’s cinematic choices. In a prior interview, she conveyed her overall dissatisfaction, recognizing the widespread recognition of The Odyssey while critiquing Nolan for not honoring its foundational themes.

Moreover, she described his films as “incoherent,” suggesting they cater more to contemporary sensibilities rather than sticking to the core of the original works.

Contentious casting choices have also surrounded the film, as Nolans’ decision to cast Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy—characterized in mythology as having fair skin and light hair—sparked debate. Additionally, Elliot Page’s portrayal of Chinon, who is from Roman literature and not present in either The Odyssey or The Iliad, raised further eyebrows.

For those interested in hearing more of Wilson’s insights, a full interview is available online.