Greek Epic, That Film and Never-Ending Odysseys

No film in recent years excited more discussion worldwide than Christopher Nolan’s version of Homer’s Odyssey. While lauded by many critics for its scale, structure, and production values, it has also been lambasted for its supposed “inaccuracies”, casting decisions, and relative elision of important female roles prominent in the original poem. The film has, in short, become a lightning-rod for many cultural issues of the day.

This event features three academics from the University of Canterbury, Peter Field (History), Vana Manasiadis (English), and Patrick O’Sullivan (Classics) who will discuss why this great story has such enduring appeal, and how Nolan has adapted it to speak to 21st century audiences: the film’s directorial and narrative choices, its relation to its Homeric model, what is at stake in retelling a 3,000 year-old myth—and more...

No matter which way the discussion goes, audiences will gain new insights into why the Odyssey still matters, and is epic in every sense of the word.

This event is presented in partnership by UC Arts and Te Matatiki Toi Ora Christchurch Arts Centre.