I have read the book (the Fagles translation). I have not seen the film. The reason for the latter is an increasing disinterest. I’ll see it eventually; I’m just not in a big hurry.
Part of the thing that has contributed to my increasing indifference is all the controversy and silliness surrounding the film. This is admittedly unfair of me. The rightwing (“conservative”?) trolls bellyaching about the film being “woke” and “historically inaccurate” are mind-numbing.
The trolls are few in number. They are representative of nothing. The box office has spoken for itself; people love the film and are not upset by Helen being portrayed by an African woman (who was born in Mexico). Now I am to understand that some people are doubting the box office receipts and suspect Universal Pictures is buying up tickets to inflate sales. 🙄
Again, this is not representative of anything. Disappointment in Nolan’s casting Lupita Nyong’o as Helen assumes some people possess a grasp of Homer’s artistic intent. As something I said to a friend recently: “The number of people on Planet Earth who are familiar with Homer’s artistic intentions is zero.” Translator Emily Watson says the concept of pursuing a “real Homer” is “historically nonsense.”
And this brings me to another point: I intensely dislike filmmakers. I guess it’s a prejudice. But where racists do not have legitimate reasons for their bigotry, I have very specific reasons for holding filmmakers in disfavor. And one is when they interpret books, the assumption is “I’ve got this.” Nolan did not bring scholars and translators (namely, Emily Watson) into the project and consult them.
Watson is very kind about the film. She says it’s “a good time at the movies.” But she has a number of criticisms that Nolan could have easily improved in his film.
Homer was writing in the 700s BC. When he did so, he was rendering into text stories that had existed as oral tradition for five hundred years. So, we’re talking about events—if indeed they happened—that occurred in 1200 BC. And people want to argue about historical accuracy?? This is not a film about the Civil War. Our knowledge of the world in that area at that time is pretty thin—closer to nonexistent.
Did the Trojan Wars take place? No one knows. Significant archaeological digs have taken place in the area of Turkey where archaeologists think Troy was (in the west). Some spears and shields have been found. Is this evidence? Nope. It is not.
People are talking, and they seem excited about a work of ancient poetry. I think this is truly great. Folks are talking about Homer! This is astounding. But it does not make people scholars of Greek antiquity.
