Since his nearly half-decade-old, internationally co-produced “Nowhere Special,” Uberto Pasolini has returned to the director’s chair with “The Return.” Retelling the Greek epic Homer’s “The Odyssey,” the story tells of Odysseus, who, upon returning, realizes things are not the same as when he left twenty years ago for the Trojan War. Now, both his wife and son are in danger, and it is up to him to confront it all and save his family.
The film stars Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, and Charlie Plummer. Fiennes, who continues to be in heavy hitters like “The Menu,” has returned to the silver screen to star as Odysseus, and similar to his “Harry Potter” days, this seems to be another starring role and another addition to his massive filmography. Binoche, a similar legend in cinema, is returning to play Penelope; they obviously once starred in the classic, Oscar-winning, “The English Patient.” It’s been a year since her last film, the French film “The Taste of Things,” and it seems nothing is slowing her down from continuing her stride with a movie nearly every year. Plummer, a younger actor compared to his other castmates but still with a substantial amount of credits, is to play Telemachus, Odysseus’ son.
“The Return” is directed by Uberto Pasolini, who also directed “Machan” and “Still Life.” It was written by John Collee, Edward Bond, and Pasolini himself. It is produced by Pasolini, Roberto Sesso, Giorgos Karnavas, Konstantinos Kontovravkis, Stéphane Moatti, Romain Le Grand, Vivien Aslanian, and Marco Pacchioni.
While adaptations of Homer are nothing new, with an all-star cast, a film made in multiple countries, and a seemingly strong enough budget, this adaptation is a possible must-see for not just fans of Homer or Greek fans but of action films in general. Bleecker Street will release “The Return” in the United States on December 6, 2024.
