‘I would be ashamed to have written any part of this’: Odyssey translator Emily Wilson attacks Nolan blockbuster

Emily Wilson, the distinguished classicist renowned for her 2017 translation of Homer’s epic poem, *The Odyssey*, has publicly and forcefully criticized director Christopher Nolan’s recent film adaptation of the same name. Wilson’s translation, celebrated for its modern sensibility and accessibility, was notably referenced by Nolan in early promotional materials for his blockbuster, suggesting a perceived connection between his cinematic vision and her scholarly work. However, in a scathing essay published in the *London Review of Books*, Wilson has disavowed any association with the film, stating it “has nothing convincing to say” and lamenting its profound lack of “psychological, emotional, political and ethical depth.”

Wilson expressed her initial hopes that Nolan, a filmmaker known for ambitious and often intellectually engaging projects, might elevate the source material, particularly by conjuring more believable characters. She had anticipated that his engagement with the Homeric themes might propel him to new creative heights. Instead, she found *The Odyssey* to embody Nolan’s characteristic stylistic tendencies, which she describes as a combination of “grandiosity and superficiality.” According to Wilson, the film’s overarching narrative vision is “too confused,” and its characters are “too underdeveloped” to effectively deliver on the “big ideas” it seems to promise. While acknowledging the film’s prowess in depicting “big bangs and big giants,” she contends that these spectacular elements do not compensate for its intellectual and emotional shortcomings.

Christopher Nolan, a filmmaker with a distinguished career marked by critically acclaimed and commercially successful films such as *Inception* (2010) and *The Dark Knight* (2008), has a history of exploring complex narratives and philosophical concepts. His decision to adapt Homer's ancient Greek epic, a foundational text in Western literature that has inspired countless retellings and interpretations, was met with significant anticipation. The choice to cite Emily Wilson’s translation, which was widely praised by critics for its fresh perspective and nuanced understanding of Homer’s original Greek, further amplified expectations for a thoughtful adaptation. Wilson’s translation, published by W. W. Norton & Company, was a significant event in classical studies, offering a contemporary voice to Odysseus's arduous journey. The stark contrast between the critical acclaim for her translation and her severe judgment of Nolan’s film underscores a significant divergence in artistic interpretation and intellectual engagement with the source material. Wilson’s critique, delivered through a prominent literary review, serves as a powerful counterpoint to the film’s commercial success, highlighting a perceived failure to translate the epic's enduring power and complexity to the screen.