Who doesn’t love a bit of Greek mythology? Whether it is a crazy mash-up like Clash Of The Titans, the stop-motion thrills of Jason And The Argonauts, or even the comically macho sword-and-sandals glower-fest that is Troy, the ancient and classic storytelling always shines through. A new film, The Return, is to take a different view of one of the most famous stories.
In mythology, Odysseus was the man behind the plot involving the giant horse at Troy. On his way back to his island kingdom of Ithaca from the siege of Troy by sea he got lost. In the process he killed a cyclops, angered Poseidon, and therefore started a many-year voyage home full of trials and tribulations that tested him and his crew to the limits, killing lots of them on the way.
The tale is told in Homer’s classic The Odyssey. Most adaptations of The Odyssey focus on this journey and include all the mythical beasts and divine tests. Of course, if you are an Outposter of a certain age then you already know the story well, because…
Now a new movie from Bleeker Street, The Return, will tell the story of Odysseus from the point at which he returns to Ithaca.
Washed up on the shores of his island after a twenty-year voyage, he comes home to find his wife Penelope (Juliette Binoche) held prisoner by suitors vying to be king and take over his lands. His son Telemachus (Charlie Plummer) is facing death at their hands to remove him from the succession.
Now he faces a battle to to win back his family and his home. The new story will focus on the efforts to regain his kingdom and will be played as a thriller instead of a mythical fantasy, with Odysseus suffering after his voyage and trials.
The Return is directed by Uberto Pasolini (The Full Monty, Bel Ami) and has already premiered at TIFF. It is released on December 6th.