Why Nolan's 'Odyssey' Strikes a Nerve in Israel
Christopher Nolan's 'Odyssey,' with a $375 million budget, has hit theaters and become a special event for Israeli viewers watching it amid active combat. Dr. Ido Hevroni notes that after October 7, students have grown closer to the ancient text. He recounts the story of fallen Major Amir Skori, at whose grave he read from the 'Iliad.' Psychiatrist Jonathan Shay believes Homeric texts more accurately describe war's aftermath. The film touches on themes of return, trauma, and social tension, resonating with Israeli reality.
Christopher Nolan's 'Odyssey,' with a budget of $375 million, has been released worldwide and has become a special event for Israeli viewers who are watching it during active hostilities. According to ynet, the story of Odysseus directly echoes their reality. Dr. Ido Hevroni, head of the humanities program at the Shalem Academic Center, notes that after October 7, the distance between students and the ancient text has shrunk. He tells of a student, Major Amir Skori of Sayeret Matkal, who initially couldn't connect with the book but later came to class as a seasoned warrior. Skori was killed on October 9 defending communities, and Hevroni read a passage from the 'Iliad' at his grave. American psychiatrist Jonathan Shay, who worked with Vietnam veterans, believes Homeric texts more accurately describe war's psychological aftermath. Nolan portrays Odysseus as a man with severe trauma. The film touches on themes of homecoming, social tension, and moral norms, which resonate with Israeli reality. The author emphasizes that culture provides a language for grappling with the difficult, recalling Ben-Gurion's project of translating world classics. 'Odyssey' becomes not entertainment but a reckoning with war's cost.