Lupita Nyong'o attends the premiere of ‘The Odyssey’ at AMC Lincoln Square on July 14, in New York. [AP]
Why are women given a bigger role in Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” than they were in Homer’s epic? Because Nolan has taken inspiration from Homer and delivered his interpretation of “The Odyssey,” rather than a faithful cinematic adaptation.
Had it been a faithful adaptation, Lupita Nyong’o – who raised the question in the first place – would not have had the role she has in the film.
The question was not asked in good faith, of course: The actress wondered, during an interview, how Homer would have felt seeing Nolan’s approach, suggesting that the ancient poet was a sexist, in contrast to the modern filmmaker who admires women and shows it.
There is no way to respond to Nyong’o’s implication, because it’s an anachronism comparing two entirely different eras.
