Last week I saw the film “The Odyssey,” directed by Christopher Nolan.
About this, I think it’s important to remember that any movie is a piece of art. In this case, the film is itself an interpretation of an earlier, existing piece of art: Homer’s story “The Odyssey.”
So.
It’s my understanding that art finds each of us differently. It is likely that no two people will react the same way to a given piece of art. We bring ourselves to it. We bring our mood, emotion, hubris, understandings, misunderstandings and lack of understandings. We bring our curiosity.
Every now and then I feel compelled to put into writing when a piece of art makes an impression on me. And this movie did. Though I’ve struggled to find words for it.
So.
==
Yes to “The Odyssey” and yes to cinematic wonder and yes-yes-yes to story-story-story.
Yes.
Yes-yes-yes.
Into this movie:
You will take
all versions of yourself.
How you emerge
is up to you.
==
Here is what I wrote: The-day-after-seeing-the-movie-on-a-WhatsApp-thread-with-others-alongside-whom-I-saw-the-movie:
“Thank you B for organising that trip to The Odyssey.
My view - I f*cking loved it and still love it. I went into it believing we can always learn from the Ancient Greeks. That view very much affirmed. What a story of human fallibility. Loved the cinema of it, the scale of it, everything, really. It always had me. ❤️”
==
A few ideas that have been rolling around my head since seeing the movie:
If you break your morals to win your way, have you really won?
The greatest battles are fought within.
Not every danger looks like a threat.
You may try to hold onto another, but once their attention leaves you, you should let them go.
Humans are animals in disguise. They will show you.
Strategy and thought can conquer brute force.
If you make reckless choices, you will suffer.
Never presume to know the life of another.
True character is tested under pressure.
Humility, humility, humility.
==
Yes, I am aware that others have written quite eloquently about the film - there have been many favourable reviews and many unfavourable reviews. Of course there have! Looking at the world around us, would we expect anything different?
Next, I look forward to reading various adaptations of the story. And I look forward to watching this movie again.
May it find you well.
==
Go well.
==
That has been Sproutings #149. Thanks for reading.
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.