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The Return
2024 116 min Greece, Italy, United Kingdom, France R 16+
★6.7
History, Drama, Adventure
Director: Uberto Pasolini
🎭 Based on
«Odyssey»
byHomer
Trailers
EN
Teaser
Teaser
EN
Description
After twenty years away, Odysseus washes up on the shores of Ithaca, haggard and unrecognizable. The king has finally returned home, but much has changed in his kingdom since he left to fight in the Trojan war.
Budget:
$20M
US Gross:
$703,979
Worldwide:
$3.3M
Starring
Charlie Plummer
Actor
Marwan Kenzari
Actor
Claudio Santamaria
Actor
Awards
2 nominations total
Key opinion
Uberto Pasolini’s The Return offers a radical, de-mythologized reimagining of the Odyssey, focusing on the psychological trauma of a veteran rather than epic adventure. While the film is praised for the strong performances of Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, it faces significant criticism for its sluggish pacing and a stripped-back aesthetic that some viewers find underwhelming or overly bleak.
| Acting | Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche deliver grounded, compelling performances that anchor the film's intimate, character-driven focus. | |
| Production | The film succeeds in creating an authentic, gritty atmosphere through its stark production design and evocative island photography. | |
| Theme | By stripping away supernatural elements, the film provides a provocative, modern exploration of PTSD and the grim reality of post-war reintegration. | |
| Pacing | The pacing is highly divisive; supporters value the meditative, contemplative tempo, while detractors find the film sluggish, flat, and lacking in dramatic momentum. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay draws mixed reactions: some appreciate the bold, revisionist approach to the myth, while others feel the narrative is thin, overly dark, and lacks the intellectual vigor of the source material. |