RETURN, THE
(director/writer: Uberto Pasolini; screenwriters: novel by Homer, Edward Bond, John Collee; cinematographer: Marius Panduru; editor: David Charap; music: Rachel Portman; cast: Ralph Fiennes (Odysseus), Juliette Binoche (Penelope), Charlie Plummer (Telemachus), Marwan Kenzari (Antinous), Tom Rhys Harries (Pisander); Runtime: 116; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Giorgos Kamavas, James Clayton, Vivien Aslanian, Konstantinos Kontovrakis, Romain Le Grand, Roberto Sessa, Stephane Moatti, Uberto Pasolini; Bleeker Street; 2024-UK/France/Italy/Greece-in English)
“A masterful but grim reinterpretation of Homer’s ancient epic poem the Odyssey.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
A masterful but grim reinterpretation of Homer’s ancient epic poem the Odyssey. It’s marvelously directed by the Italian filmmaker Uberto Pasolini (“Nowhere Special”/”Still Life”) and written by Edward Bond and John Collee. Also receiving an outstanding performance by Ralph Fiennes as the Greek king, and a brilliant understated one by Juliette Binoche as the distraught queen.
Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes), the king, no longer the mighty warrior, with the gods and monsters only in his head, returns from the Trojan War after shipwrecked and left unrecognizable as he washes up to the shore looking like a beggar to a much changed Ithaca after 20 years. His wife Penelope (Juliette Binoche) is a virtual prisoner in her own house, as various suitors and scoundrels, including Antinous (Marwan Kenzari), are determined to marry her and become king. Their young adult son Telemachus (Charlie Plummer) is in danger from these suitors, who find he’s in the way of their ambitions. Odysseus must now regain his powers if he’s to survive in these circumstances and rebuild his ruined kingdom.
Much of it is filmed in the shadows and by candlelight.
It played at the Toronto International festival.
REVIEWED ON 12/24/2024 GRADE: B+