Christopher Nolan says making ‘The Odyssey’ film was 'hard job'

Bringing the classic Greek epic “The Odyssey” to the silver screen was quite a “hard job” even for acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan, who regarded the project as his most expansive cinematic work yet.

Nolan got candid about the process of making the movie, which was filmed across six countries—Morocco, Greece, Italy, Iceland, Scotland and the United States—and features A-listers Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron and Zendaya.

“The Odyssey is an incredible work that’s extremely important to the history of the world and development of culture, but it has never been adapted as a modern blockbuster,” the British-American filmmaker said.

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“I was energized by the challenge of creating the mythic world of Ancient Greece and excited about telling its story, with all its rich themes, in a way I’d never seen,” he stated.

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Nolan noted the influence the classic tale has on most films, pointing out his discovery of how his works carry such “to a degree [he] never before realized.”

“Whether it’s the narrative through-line of Odysseus or the singular episodes that make the entirety of the epic, ‘The Odyssey’ underpins almost all of cinema,” he stated

Delving into his experience helming the adaptation, Nolan spoke about his approach of merging practical effects, live stunt-work, real locations and modern visual effects to ensure it speak to audiences. This combination, he stressed, “creates the most immersive and powerful experience possible.”

“We can return to an older era of filmmaking, where ‘in-camera’ spectacle was everything for audiences. But we can also address the fantasy through the power of visual effects,” he said. “For me, this synthesis was an appeal of the project. We are trying to do it all, which seems totally appropriate for what the Odyssey is and needs to be on screen.”

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“It was a hard job—as it should be. It’s ‘The Odyssey,'” he underscored.

“The Odyssey” is set to premiere in Philippine cinemas on July 15. /edv

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