16/08/2026
🎬🇬🇷 My Greek Tutor watches Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey
What an experience!
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is a visually stunning and captivating film, with breathtaking cinematography and some truly unforgettable moments. For me, two of the absolute highlights were the encounter with Polyphemus, the Cyclops, and the scenes with Circe. Greek mythology comes spectacularly to life on the big screen.
Penelope is portrayed beautifully, with strength, dignity and emotion, while Circe is simply mesmerising. There are moments of genuine intensity and emotion that stay with you long after leaving the cinema.
As someone who loves Greek language, literature and culture, I also noticed a small detail that made me smile: at one point, we even hear Modern Greek being spoken! 🇬🇷
If I had one small reservation, it would be the portrayal of Odysseus himself.
Homer’s Odysseus is not primarily a hero of physical strength. His greatest weapon is his mind. He is πολύμητις (polymetis) — “the man of many wiles”, a master of intelligence, ingenuity and strategic thinking. What makes his journey so extraordinary is his resourcefulness, perseverance and determination to keep going, however impossible the situation may seem.
At times, the film seems to emphasise Odysseus’ physical strength more than this remarkable intellectual side of his character. I would have loved to see even more of the clever, inventive and endlessly resourceful Odysseus that Homer gave us.
But this is only a small observation in what is otherwise a thrilling cinematic experience.
Above all, the film smells of Greece. 🇬🇷🌊
It breathes Greece.
It breathes mythology.
It breathes the sea, adventure, gods and mortals, longing and homecoming.
And perhaps the most exciting thing of all is seeing a story born from Ancient Greek literature almost three thousand years ago filling cinemas around the world today.
There is something incredibly special about watching audiences everywhere become fascinated once again by Odysseus, Penelope, Circe, the Cyclops and the extraordinary world that Homer created so many centuries ago.
Greek mythology is alive.
Homer is alive.
And The Odyssey continues its journey. 💙🇬🇷
My Greek Tutor
Greek language, literature and culture — from Homer to today.
