by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
The decades-long trial of Odysseus is a tale filled with rich detail, characters, and adventure. This journey back from the Trojan War was long, and full of unexpected perils and dangers. It would become known as The Odyssey,and it took literal decades for Odysseus to finally come home and reunite with his wife and kingdom. The Odyssey is one of the most famous stories of any mythology, and it is quite unexpected that there’s a new adaptation focusing just on the end in The Return. But when you have a talent like Uberto Pasolini behind the camera, and performers like Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche in front of it… you will certainly grab some attention.
The Return is a fresh and interesting presentation of this timeless tale of struggle, determination, and grief, but it’s not a big mythological epic like you would expect from an adaptation of Homer. Pasolini (and writers Edward Bond and John Collee) take quite a different approach. There are no huge set pieces and epic battles. Instead, there’s just a shadow of Odysseus (Fiennes). He is no longer the warrior he once was, after being shaken by the war and his lethal journey home. He’s a shell of his former self, and that is explored in this version of the story through grit and intimacy. It’s a raw and poignant interpretation, with a darker and more serious tone. You will find no fun here; instead, there’s brutality, blood, and regrets. The tone and atmosphere can be overbearing, but it is certainly fresh and interesting.
Pasolini accomplishes all of this through a richly textured film. He goes for a more penetrating film than most others based on epic poems. The choices of closeup and medium shots help mold the story exactly how he wants. There is a real richness to the film.
Cinematographer Marius Panduru does a great job with the lighting and shadows to give the film a touching contrast. Rachel Portman’s score relies heavily on strings, which bring extra depth to many sequences. The visuals and music mesh well in crafting an overall classic vibe. But this is a stark contrast to the bloody brutality of it all; those moments will certainly grab your attention.
But this is only the last piece of Homer’s The Odyssey, so the filmmakers are trying to stretch the last leg in Odysseus’ journey into a feature-length film. That is quickly apparent, from the way the story is methodical and takes its time to really get anywhere. You can tell the story is a little stretched out over its two-hour runtime. But despite this, the film is still an engaging and impactful character study.
Odysseus goes through so much that it is no wonder he is shaken and a shadow of his former self. His journey to rediscover himself, reclaim his throne, and find his way back to his wife is impactful. This film is visceral and impactful, as we feel for Odysseus, as well as Penelope (Binoche), a woman who has been cut off from her husband for so long.
The suitors are not the most interesting antagonists, as they just act as a collective roadblock for Odysseus (Marwan Kenzari’s Antinous makes a limited impression). The clunkiest storyline of all is that of Telemachus (Charlie Plummer), the child of Odysseus and Penelope. He is on the run, but he is overbearing and frustrated to watch for much of the film.
Fiennes delivers in a big way as a man reserved and hesitant to fit into the story. He nails the physicality with his impressive physique, but the emotion is there too, much of which is underneath the surface. Binoche is a world-class actor, and she brings plenty of feeling into Penelope’s story.
There are elements of The Return that work more often than they don’t. This is a fine film, with an old-school atmosphere and a fresh tone for a mythological tale. Pasolini’s more grounded, brutal, and visceral ideas take the audience on a journey of humanity. The themes are effective, and the climax is quite memorable and brutal, as it channels some of the beats of Homer’s story. The Return is not a great film, but it is the mature and engaging kind that is not often made anymore.
Rating: Liked It
The Return is currently playing in theaters
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