The Return

With talk of the Odyssey adaptation looming, a much quieter version of the story managed to slip under the radar this year. The Return tells the tale of Odysseus after he returns home. Ralph Fiennes stars in this Greek tale of family, and reunification. It did get a film festival premiere as well as a limited theatrical release. This means that it is technically eligible for awards but it has been so quiet that I am not sure that it will get any attention. I have long said that films released in December do not get the attention that they deserve, despite the academy having early access to the films, and there being almost an entire month from end of year to actual nominations. If I can do it with a job, so can the academy members that don’t have to work for a living (that means all of them).

Odysseus stumbles back to Ithaca, where he is recognized by no one. He is very much still revered by his people, though they do not know who he is. He seems distressed by the idea of his wife still being alone.

The men that have taken him in, telling stories of the great Odysseus. A bulk of this story is focusing on Penelope refuting her many suitors as Odysseus tries to make his way back to his wife.

Surely she will recognize her husband when she sees him…

I’m not sure how close we are sticking to the end of the Odyssey here or how many creative liberties we have taken. When Penelope hears of the man who says he was at Troy she goes to him. Ooof the sound mixing in this scene is very weird, her mic goes wonky for a second and no one fixed it…okay. It’s actually her handmaid that recognizes him, but he forbids her to tell the queen.

The queen’s son tells his mother to forget Odysseus because he is living on an island with another woman (obviously not true).

We are deviating from source material a bit because we killed off Laertes.

We are really leaning into the suitors trying to kill the prince? Pretty aggressively, though in that pursuit the prince realizes that his father is alive and right in front of him. But it also pulls them both further away from the queen.

Odysseus being back has given this young prince a backbone. The queen offers the suitors a chance to live up to the legacy of her husband. Only because she knows that her husband is alive. He must step up and reveal himself or he will lose his wife and child forever. This version of Odysseus is incredible, he’s broken, he’s seen so much death, he’s been away from his family for so long that he doesn’t have the emotional strength to come forward. Odysseus sees his son step and realizes that maybe he still can be the man that he once was.

Wow Ralph is really incredible in this movie. The scene where he bends his bow in front of all the suitors is incredible. It’s quiet, it's intense and it really shows why Odysseus is revered the way that he is. He is more than strength and raw power. He is intelligent, compassionate, and morally strong.

We are sticking to the source material, at least an interpretation of it. The challenge of course, and then Odysseus killing all of the suitors. He stands covered in blood next to his son as Penelope re-enters. Telemachus fully succumbs to his fathers influence when he kills Antinous against his mothers wishes. The bloodbath changes Penelope’s view of Odysseus and her son.

I have been obsessed with the Odyssey since about 8th grade, I love Greek mythology. The Return is such a beautiful addition to this epic that so many love. It is well written, well acted and sticks true to the essence of its source material. To craft an entire movie around just the ending of such an iconic story is difficult but this was just so well done. 10/10, truly an incredible film.