The Odyssey (1997)
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A legendary hero must endure a perilous ten-year journey across the sea to return home after the Trojan War.
The story
After the fall of Troy, the hero Odysseus finds himself at sea, facing the wrath of the gods and the dangers of the Mediterranean. Having mocked the gods for their help in the war, he is cursed by Poseidon, who ensures his journey home is fraught with peril. While his wife Penelope and son Telemachus remain in Ithaca, facing a growing number of suitors, Odysseus must navigate treacherous waters, encounter mythical creatures, and survive the enchantments of goddesses. The story follows his arduous struggle to overcome divine obstacles and natural hazards to reach his home and reunite with his family.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Following the Trojan War, Odysseus is cursed by Poseidon for his hubris and begins a perilous journey home. He faces the Cyclops Polyphemus, is trapped by the witch Circe for years, and must travel to the Underworld to seek guidance from the prophet Tiresias. Meanwhile, in Ithaca, Penelope resists suitors while Telemachus grows into a man. Odysseus survives the monsters Scylla and Charybdis and is held captive by Calypso. Eventually, he is released by Hermes and reaches Ithaca disguised as a beggar. He wins a contest of strength with his bow, defeats the suitors, and is finally reunited with Penelope.
- First release year
- 1997
- Runtime (minutes)
- 176
- Production countries
- United States; Australia
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Andrei Konchalovsky
- Writers
- Andrei Konchalovsky · writer
- Cast and characters
- Armand Assante · Odysseus; Greta Scacchi · Penelope; Irene Papas · Anticlea; Isabella Rossellini · Athena; Bernadette Peters · Circe; Eric Roberts · Eurymachus; Vanessa Williams · Calypso; Alan Stenson · Telemachus
- Genres
- mythology; adventure
- Themes
- hubris; loyalty; fate
- Tone and mood
- epic; adventurous
- Premise and plot tags
- mythology; adventure; epic
- Source material / true-story basis
- the Odyssey by Homer
- Reception
- The series received mostly positive reviews from critics, praised for its visual spectacle and cast, though some critics found it lacked depth or was 'tacky'.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 79% · review count: 48
- Awards and nominations
- Primetime Emmy Award · Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or Special · won
- Production trivia
- The creature effects were provided by Jim Henson's Creature Shop.; The boat used in the series was reused for the Jason and the Argonauts miniseries.; It was the first 'made-for-TV movie' in four years to rank first in weekly total viewership.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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