Those fond of a hero’s journey narrative have Homer’s ancient tale, Odyssey, to thank for inspiring some of today’s biggest box office hits. The epic story – initially penned back in the 7th or 8th century B.C. – has served as one of humankind’s most prolific works, having been remade for the stage and screen thousands of times. Most recently, the story was adapted as The Return, which premiered in theaters on Dec. 6, after initially launching at the Toronto International Film Festival back in September. Fans have already been flocking to theaters to catch Ralph Fiennes’ moving performance as Odysseus, though many have been wondering just how closely The Return will be following its source material.
Luckily, we’ve got you covered, with a comprehensive guide to The Return‘s narrative, ending and overall presentation. Normally, we’d suggest bookmarking this page for later to avoid spoilers, though you’re likely already aware of the classic tale of Odyssey. Since the story is nearly as old as the written word, your enjoyment of The Return will hinge more on visual presentation and performance than the actual plot, so you can feel free to read ahead whether you’ve seen the film or not. Of course, there will still be spoilers, so if you’ve managed to avoid knowledge of Odyssey’s plot thus far, you’re more than welcome to hold off on reading ahead until after you’ve caught The Return in theaters. Either way, let’s dive right in, and see what we can learn from the new film’s tried and tested story.
What Happens in ‘The Return’?
Much like the original epic, The Return opens with a scene of our hero, Odysseus, washing up nude on a beach, battered and scarred from a decades-long war. Though he left his people as a feared and respected warrior king, he is now a shell of his former self with no home left to return to. Odysseus’ wife Penelope has become inundated with would-be suitors looking to secure a right to the throne, laboring under the assumption that their king has long since perished at war. Likewise, Odysseus’ son Telemachus faces constant death threats from men looking to usurp his father’s kingdom.
In a display of brilliance, Penelope crafts a scheme designed to turn away the legions of men, by proclaiming that she will not take a new husband until she finishes weaving a burial shroud for Odysseus’ ailing father. Though she toils with the shroud throughout the day, she spends each night unweaving it, so as to never fully complete the project. Penelope remains steadfast in her loyalty to Odysseus and prays against all odds that he will return home, though the entire kingdom is convinced that he has died. Furthermore, the people are resentful of their king’s failed leadership, given that he has refused to return to battle to support his nation amidst a failing economy.
Penelope’s Suitors Get Out of Control
Odysseus’ steward Eumaeus is the first to find the battered king washed up on the shore. As he helps to rehabilitate the weathered old man, Odysseus insists that Eumaeus not reveal his identity to the public in his weakened state. Instead, Odysseus returns to the palace as a beggar and pretends to be a simple soldier with no claim to the land. Despite his kindness and humility, Odysseus is mistreated and beaten by the suitors, who have grown ravenous without a strong leader to unite them. Additionally, suitors can be found marauding through town, raping and murdering innocent people like lawless bandits. At one point, Telemachus also attempts to escape the kingdom, though he finds that ravenous suitors are present everywhere he goes.
Meanwhile, Odysseus’ father dies, rendering Penelope with no further excuse to delay a second wedding. She nebulously insists that she’ll pick a new suitor “soon,” though her noncommittal response only serves to whip the men into a frenzy. Fearing that they may storm the castle and forcefully depose her, Penelope develops a competition to test the worthiness of her suitors against the strengths of her first husband. Per her decree, any man who can string Odysseus’ old bow and shoot an arrow through a dozen axe heads will be worthy. This buys her a bit more time, as most of the suitors fail to even lift the bow, let alone properly string it.
Odysseus’ Tragic Homecoming
As Telemachus returns from his trip to a foreign port, having barely escaped the clutches of the suitors, Odysseus finds him and reveals himself to be the boy’s father. At first, Telemachus is disgusted with his father’s absence and lack of leadership, though he quickly comes to revere him after Odysseus slays two suitors who attempt to hunt Telemachus with dogs. After a brief period of hiding from additional attackers, Odysseus, Telemachus and Eumaeus manage to sneak their way into the castle where Odysseus offers to take on the archery competition. To the shock of everyone, the battered king manages to expertly string and shoot the bow, nailing the competition in a single shot.
Odysseus’ success with the arrow immediately gives away his identity, both to a relieved Penelope and a terrified population of rapacious suitors who have eschewed retribution for their crimes for years on end. In a fit of self-assured rage, Odysseus turns his bow on the men and begins violently slaying them as they flee for the gates. Loyal servants of Penelope and Odysseus lock the doors, forcing the suitors to face their king, just as Odysseus runs out of arrows and picks up a sword and spear. Telemachus and Eumaeus also join in the fight, annihilating the suitors with ease in a harrowing blood bath.
How Does ‘The Return’ End?
The final moments of The Return see Odysseus and his loyalists reveling in the retribution of the bandits, though Penelope is sickened by the violence. When Odysseus and Penelope finally come together, they agree that their years apart and respective hardships have taken a great toll on their relationship. Despite their tribulations, the pair promises to work together to rediscover their love and move on from the difficulties they faced while apart. As the couple returns to their bed (which was carved from an olive tree still rooted to the soil beneath the castle) Telemachus is finally free to pursue his destiny. With his legacy safe and secure, he sets sail for a distant land in search of his own battles and adventures, thus continuing the legacy of his father.
Analyzing Uberto Pasolini’s Historic Drama
Though The Return sticks fairly close to the original source material, there are a few major things that set this adaptation apart from those that came before. For starters, the new film has been truncated from the original text, which spans over 24 volumes, for a total of 12,109 lines of dactylic hexameter. These changes include the removal of some subplots and characters, including a pivotal use of the personification of the gods. In The Return, Odysseus is not a man in active communication with the gods and instead serves as a grounded and realistic representation of a weathered soldier suffering from PTSD. Though many key elements were stricken from the film, the overall narrative and arc remain mostly intact, offering a very faithful iteration of the original text.
The Odyssey, and by virtue, The Return, offer themes of homecoming, worthiness and moral integrity. The iconic story has resonated powerfully throughout the centuries due to the inherent suggestion that good triumphs over evil when men of character step up to a challenge. Though the raiding suitors ravaged Ithaca for years, they only did so because they felt emboldened by Odysseus’ absence. Of course, none of these men could measure up to their king when tested, displaying their unworthiness and lack of moral character. When Odysseus first washes ashore, he finds himself unworthy, as he feels that he failed his men by returning alone. It is only through saving his son and estranged wife that he can reclaim his sense of self, and ultimately rise to prominence once more.
As stated above, there have been thousands of adaptations of this tale since its inception. Still, The Return manages to set itself apart from the others by providing some incredibly strong performances, excellent production value and an urgent and prescient sense of the consequences of war. If you’re already a fan of the original tale, you’ll certainly fall in love with what this film has to offer. Those looking to experience Odyssey for the very first time should be sure to strap in for a chaotic blood-soaked epic, with a deep and genuine sense of humanity.
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