The Return, le retour d'Ulysse

While some have complained of the lack of action and slow progress, I though Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche did a wonderful job of portraying an older couple grappling with distance and war.

Ralph Fiennes embodied a man exhausted from both war and his return. He returns from a lengthy war only to be welcomed back by another one in his own home. He's a man ready to live a peaceful life but with a whole new enemy at his gates that he doesn't want and isn't ready to face.

His wife had been ever faithful and longing but you can see the hope dwindling from her eyes as each day passes. Her fear for her son has filled him with resentment as he struggles with his own identity.

It's only when they're all together again at the end that we wish to see their joy at being reunited. Instead we're met with anger, resentment, and exhaustion.

While not the ending audiences would've wanted, it portrays a realistic look at what a family torn apart by war experiences upon the soldiers return. Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche exceed expectations as Odysseus and Penelope, capturing the emotions of a war torn couple with elegance and finesse.

While watching the trailers for Gladiator II, this film was teased. That was certainly the best part of the Gladiator II experience. What I was expecting to see from the teaser was not what I experienced, and that was wonderful. I was expecting, simply, a modern play of the third act of the Odyssey with some great modern actors. Instead, I was treated to a thought-provoking exploration of many difficult topics involved in the human experience. They just so happened to find their home in Odysseus's return home at the end of the Odyssey. This film comes across as a passion project of the lead actor and producer. I would love to look into the story of the making and funding of this project. This movie was not at all what I was expecting but found it to be a real treat and left me and my viewing companion discussing the different themes and meanings. The cinematography is where this film shines.

One of the great works of Western Literature, Homer's THE ODYSSEY has been told on film many times in many ways. It tells the story of Odysseus's attempt to get back home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. He is beset with obstacles from the beginning in the form of monsters, a sorceress, sirens, lotus eaters, cannibals, etc. The previous versions of this story have focused on the spectacular and sensational elements, most notably 1954's ULYSSES starring Kirk Douglas. (For that film Odysseus was rechristened Ulysses for some unknown reason.) This version is different in that it focuses on the human elements of the story when Odysseus finally returns to Ithaca after 10 hard-fought years, only to find his kingdom in severe decline and his wife at the mercy of hoodlum men trying to marry her to get her money and the kingdom because everyone thinks Odysseus is dead. They are threatening to take her and Ithaca by force if she does not choose one of them for a husband. After 10 years, Odysseus is unrecognizable and needs to assess the situation before planning his strategy to get rid of these vile men who are bleeding his land, and to take his rightful place as king. He disguises himself as a tramp until he can reveal himself and take action.

This is not a film laden with CGI special effects and aimed at teenage boys; it is aimed at intelligent adults with adult emotions and rationality. The literate script by the late Edward Bond, John Collee, and Uberto Pasolini is a joy to hear, especially when spoken by first-rate actors. But a great deal of the film has no dialogue at all. The actors do a lot with "sub-text," especially the brilliant Juliette Binoche as Penelope. She gives a fine, complex performance. Ralph Fiennes gives the best performance I've seen him give to date. Mr. Pasolini is also the director of the film and he does a fine job of keeping it focused and suspenseful. Cinematography is by Marius Panduru, who is aided wonderfully by the gorgeous locales on the island of Corfu. Effective and unintrusive musical score is by Oscar winner Rachel Portman.

In case such things bother you, I will warn you that the film has a lot of blood and violence, and some nudity (including a lengthy full Monty by Mr. Fiennes fairly early in the film).

I'm so grateful to the producers for having the courage to make a film aimed at intelligent adults. I hope it gets enough audience support to encourage others to do the same.

"The Return" offered a deeply human perspective on the timeless tale of Odysseus, blending the epic grandeur of Greek mythology with a raw, emotional core.

This 2024 adaptation breathed new life into Homer's Iliad, focusing on one of its most iconic narratives-Odysseus' long-awaited return to Ithaca following the Trojan War.

What set this film apart was its decision to strip away the traditional heroism that's often associated with Odysseus. Instead, I saw a man burdened by guilt, exhaustion, and the scars of war-more flawed and vulnerable than the larger-than-life figure of legend.

This Odysseus was not the triumphant warrior of old but a soul-weary traveller grappling with the weight of his past and the uncertainty of his future.

The story unfolded against a backdrop of simmering tension in Ithaca. Penelope, Odysseus' wife, was trapped in a precarious position, besieged by suitors vying for her hand and the throne.

Her portrayal as a "prisoner of peace" added layers of complexity to the narrative, highlighting the struggles of a woman navigating a world dominated by men.

Meanwhile, their son Telemachus faced his own danger caught in the island's web of political peril-a nod to the brutal logic of ancient Greek storytelling, which has since resonated across cultures and time.

The film's emotional depth was elevated by its stellar cast. Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche reunited on screen and delivered powerhouse performances as Odysseus and Penelope (resp.).

Their realistic chemistry captured the fraught dynamic of a couple separated by decades of war and longing.

The love they once shared had faded, replaced by misunderstanding and resentment, but their journey of reconnection felt achingly real.

Fiennes embodied Odysseus' internal conflict with quiet intensity, while Binoche brought a steely resilience to Penelope, making their scenes together quite compelling.

"The Return" was not a film driven by action or spectacle. It was a slow-burn character study, rich in atmosphere and emotion.

The pacing felt deliberate, but it served the story well, allowing me to empathise with the characters' struggles.

The tension built steadily, culminating in a climactic finale that delivered both emotional and narrative payoff.

What made "The Return" truly remarkable was its ability to feel both ancient and modern. While it stayed true to the spirit of the original epic, it also explored themes of trauma, identity, and redemption that will resonate with contemporary viewers.

Watching this movie felt like peering through a time-travel window, and the emotions the script evoked felt timeless. Instead of serving the role of a flashy blockbuster, "The Return" stood out as a poignant and thought-provoking piece of cinema.

The film continues to linger in my mind, a testament to the enduring power of Odysseus' story. If you're looking for a fresh take on a classic tale, this is one ship worth boarding.

--- --- --- Laudable contributions from Charlie Plummer (as Telemachus), Marwan Kenzari (as Antinous), Claudio Santamaria (as Eumaes), Tom Rhys Harries (as Pisander), Amir Wilson (as Philetius), and Jaz Hutchins (as Hippotas).

Some may find this film boring. And while the runtime does drag on a few times during the course of the movie, I didn't find it as lacklustre as I thought it might be. This is mostly due to the two great lead performances by Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, reunited after almost thirty years (Their last picture together was the Oscar-winning film The English Patient in 1996).

I'm not at all familiar with Greek myths, as there are so many of them, it's hard to keep track. But this particular story focuses solely on the last part of Odysseus's story, when he is washed up, broken, scarred and a shadow of his former self after the war of Troy. His wife Penelope, who has been pressured by annoying, leery men into marrying them, cannot recognise her husband. Not necessarily because he looks physically different, but because of the atrocities he committed while he was away. And the question of whether the sacrifices his homeland made was worth it for war.

It focuses on the timeless story of men returning back home from the horrors of warfare, only to find that their home no longer wants them, and they cannot escape their soldier's life. Such is the situation for many veterans suffering from PTSD.

But it also offers a glimmer of hope to start again. And I have no problem with quieter movies as long as they offer good themes and realistic characterizations. We don't always need CGI monsters and big battles to keep us hooked.