Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey has finally arrived in cinemas across Europe, drawing audiences from Athens to Berlin. But for many Greeks, the epic is far more than a blockbuster—it is a living part of daily life, taught in classrooms and performed on stages.
Philippos Mantzaris, a teacher in Greece, brings the adventures of Odysseus to his students every day. 'It is a wonderful piece of literature that children can identify with, perhaps even see Odysseus within themselves, and also see their own homeland,' he says. 'The Odyssey is a story that unfolded here in Greece. As a child, when I was in my village studying the Odyssey, every time I read about Nausicaa washing clothes at the spring, I pictured my mother taking me there as a child and us going to wash clothes in exactly the same way.'
Classroom Debates and Timeless Lessons
In Greek schools, students are asked to analyse Odysseus's intelligence in relation to his physical strength and to decide whether killing the suitors is a just act. These discussions go beyond literary analysis, touching on ethics, strategy, and human nature. Maria Zeibekaki, a pupil, reflects: 'It is a story that teaches us many things and tells us not to give up and to use our minds instead of violence. I think we should continue to teach it.'
The educational approach varies across Europe. In France, the Odyssée is a staple of the lycée curriculum, often paired with discussions of heroism and exile. In Germany, Homer's work is studied in the context of classical antiquity and its influence on modern literature. The epic's themes of nostos (homecoming) and cunning resonate particularly in regions with histories of migration and displacement.
Theatre as a Gateway
Beyond the classroom, theatre offers a dynamic entry point. Actor Manos Pintzis portrays Odysseus in a production aimed at children and teenagers. 'You don't say to a child, "Just read the story because you have to." Because they will resist when something is imposed on them. But when the child sees all this unfold before their eyes, that becomes a valuable step towards learning: they learn because they want to,' he explains.
Families and school groups from Athens and the provinces flock to see the performance. Nikos Varelas brought his four-year-old son. 'We've started now that he is four. Since he was two and a half or three, we've been reading both the Iliad and the Odyssey in versions suitable for children. It is our duty as parents, as Greeks.'
This grassroots engagement with the epic is part of a broader cultural phenomenon. Set-jetting to 'The Odyssey': Europe's Ancient Sites Draw Film-Inspired Travelers explores how Nolan's film is boosting tourism to archaeological sites in Greece, Italy, and Turkey.
Nolan's Take: A Monumental Achievement
In our review of the film, we noted: 'While some purists may quibble at some anachronistic liberties taken with the dialogue (a couple of F-bombs do strike a false note), The Odyssey brushes aside reservations by being a monumental technical achievement. It is to be expected from a director of Nolan's meticulousness, as well as from his four-time cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema—without forgetting the great Ludwig Göransson, who delivers a tremendous, throbbing score. Expected, but not taken for granted.'
For a deeper critique, see Nolan's 'The Odyssey': A Bold but Flawed Voyage into Homer's Epic.
The film's release also comes amid debates about AI's role in filmmaking. Christopher Nolan has stated that the younger generation is 'utterly rejecting' AI in filmmaking, a stance that resonates with many European artists who prioritise human creativity.
As Nolan's Odyssey draws crowds from Stockholm to Seville, it is clear that Homer's tale of perseverance and wit remains as relevant as ever—whether encountered on a page, a stage, or a cinema screen.
