The Return is a 2024 drama film directed by Uberto Pasolini and starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche. The film is a retelling of the last sections of Homer's Odyssey as adapted by Edward Bond, John Collee, and Pasolini.
| The Return | |
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_poster.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Uberto Pasolini |
| Screenplay by |
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| Based on | The Odyssey by Homer |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Marius Panduru |
| Edited by | David Charap |
| Music by | Rachel Portman |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Bleecker Street |
Release dates |
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Running time | 116 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | English |
| Box office | $899,575[1][2] |
It premiered in the Gala section at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2024, and was theatrically released on December 6, 2024, in the United States by Bleecker Street.
Plot
editFollowing introductory on-screen words about himself and the Trojan War, Odysseus washes up naked on the shores of his home island Ithaca after twenty years fighting in and returning from the War. Scarred mentally and physically by his experiences, he is unrecognizable from the mighty warrior-king that left decades before. His wife Penelope is now a prisoner in her own palace, hounded by many suitors to choose a new husband that would take the throne. Odysseus and Penelope's son Telemachus is facing death at the hands of those who see him as a threat to their ambitions. Odysseus is forced to face his past in order to save his family and win back that which he has lost.[3]
Penelope weaves her elderly father-in-law's burial shroud on her loom, he being close to death. She tells her crude, greedy suitors she will not choose one of them until the shroud is woven. However, every night she partially unweaves the shroud. Penelope often catches her maids having sex with the suitors.
The suitors harass Telemachus, who never knew his father. Two suitors find a man in the sea, but say no more suitors are needed, so throw him back. Back on land, the same suitors go hunting a girl; finding her absent from her boyfriend's tent, they rape and kill him. Chief suitor, well-dressed Antinous, presses Penelope to marry, but she refuses.
Swineherd Eumaeus discovers Odysseus ashore and brings him home. Dispirited Odysseus relates the horrors of the War, which linger with him constantly.
Odysseus' father dies; the suitors press Penelope to marry, insisting Odysseus is dead too. She says she will make the shroud her wedding gown, but says she will choose a suitor soon, privately wondering how long she will survive that.
Eumaeus takes Odysseus to the palace; Odysseus' dog recognizes him. He calls himself an old War soldier and begs for food; most suitors abuse him. They force him to fight a huge man, but Odysseus kills him. Penelope speaks to Odysseus, but ends up sending him off. However, Odysseus' old nursemaid, Eurycleia, discovers his identity while bathing him, feeling a scar behind his leg. He bids her be silent.
Telemachus, who sailed to another port and faced danger even there, returns, to mortal threat; the suitors hunt him with dogs. Odysseus runs into him as two suitors approach, but Telemachus will not stop talking, so Odysseus knocks him out, then kills the two suitors. Odysseus, Telemachus, Eumaeus, and friends flee behind a water-pool, which throws the hounds off their scent. Telemachus is not happy to discover Odysseus is his father, who did not return for decades despite the worsening economic and political situation on Ithaca, and Odysseus' failure to bring Ithacan warriors home, but resigns himself to it.
Antinous discovers Penelope unraveling her weaving, and forces a decision. Odysseus' crew hears Penelope will be deciding the next day. They go to the palace.
Penelope tells the suitors her choice is to make them compete with Odysseus' old bow, seeing if they can shoot an arrow through multiple axe-heads' holes as he did. None of them can even string it. Odysseus offers to try, and strings it and shoots the arrow through the axe-heads. He then shoots the suitors, who panic. Loyal servants close the doors to prevent escape.
When his arrows run out, he remorselessly kills the suitors in hand-to-hand combat. Telemachus is tempted to flee, but helps his father fight. Antinous surrenders, and Penelope, desirous of peace and tired of male violence, bids Telemachus let him live, but he kills him, horrifying his mother.
Telemachus insists on sailing away to find himself and his destiny. Odysseus sees Penelope uses an unfamiliar bed; he ascends to a hidden room, and finds their old bed, which she had sealed away after he left for the War. Penelope tells Odysseus that she has much to tell him; Odysseus replies he will do the same. She says they have much to forget, in order to move on; they conclude that they first must remember what happened, then they can forget. An image of Odysseus' blood washed away in a basin, is followed by an image of Telemachus' ship asail on the sea.
Cast
edit- Ralph Fiennes as Odysseus
- Juliette Binoche as Penelope
- Charlie Plummer as Telemachus
- Tom Rhys Harries as Pisander
- Marwan Kenzari as Antinous
- Claudio Santamaria as Eumaeus
- Ayman Al Aboud as Indius
- Amir Wilson as Philoetius
- Francesco Bianchi as Amphimedon
- Nicolas Retrivi as Elenus
- Bruno Cassandra as Promachus
- Cosimo Desii as Eurydamus
- Ángela Molina as Eurycleia[4]
- Stefano Santomauro as Thoas
Production
editDevelopment
editThe project was announced in April 2022. The script for the film was written by John Collee and Edward Bond. The film's director, Uberto Pasolini, and James Clayton produced the film. HanWay Films began handling international sales and took the project to the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.[5] In February 2023 Bleecker Street were announced to have picked up North American rights and have Andrew Karpen and Kent Sanderson executive producing on the project. Roberto Sessa for Picomedia with Rai Cinema, Giorgos Karnavas and Konstantinos Kontovravkis for Heretic and Stéphane Moatti, Romain Le Grand, Vivien Aslanian and Marco Pacchioni for Kabo Films and Marvelous Production were also revealed as producers on the Italy-U.S.-Greece-U.K.-France co-production.[6]
Casting
editThe film marks the third time Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche have appeared together following the 1996 Oscar winner The English Patient and 1992's Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights.[7] In February 2023, Charlie Plummer and Marwan Kenzari were added to the cast.[8][9]
Filming
editThe film began production in Greece in the spring of 2023, with principal photography in the regions of Corfu and the Peloponnese, before continuing on to locations in Italy.[10] Filming had wrapped in Corfu by June 2023.[11]
Release
editIn July 2024, The Return was announced as part of the Gala section at the Toronto International Film Festival scheduled for September 2024.[12] The film was theatrically released on December 6, 2024, in the United States by Bleecker Street.[13]
Reception
editOn the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 78% of 54 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.3/10. The website's consensus reads: "The Return removes the mythology from Odysseus' homecoming along with some of the fun, but Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche's terrific performances keep this drama absorbing."[14] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 67 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[15]
Katie Walsh in the Los Angeles Times calls the movie "an acting showcase",[16] with Jeannette Catsoulis in the New York Times also praising strong performances by Fiennes and Binoche.[17] Reviewers, including Corey Atad in the Toronto Star, noted the Shakespearean quality of the drama.[18]
References
edit- ^ "The Return (2024)". Nash Information Services. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- ^ "The Return (2024)". Nash Information Services. The Numbers. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- ^ Ravindran, Manori (April 28, 2023). "'English Patient' Stars Juliette Binoche, Ralph Fiennes Will Reunite in 'The Return,' a Gritty Take on 'The Odyssey'". Variety. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
- ^ Scheck, Frank (September 11, 2024). "'The Return' Review: Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche Shine in an 'Odyssey' Adaptation That Burns Too Slowly". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Goldbart, Max (April 28, 2022). "'The English Patient' Stars Ralph Fiennes & Juliette Binoche Reunite For Uberto Pasolini's 'The Return'; HanWay To Launch Sales In Cannes". Deadline. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
- ^ Echebiri, Makouchi (February 16, 2023). "Ralph Fiennes to Star as Odysseus in 'The Odyssey'-Inspired Epic 'The Return'". Collider. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
- ^ Remley, Hilary (April 28, 2022). "Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche Join Uberto Pasolini's 'The Return'". Collider. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
- ^ Lodderhose, Diana (February 15, 2023). "Bleecker Street Acquires Ralph Fiennes-Juliette Binoche Starrer 'The Return' For North America". Deadline. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (February 17, 2023). "' The Old Guard' Star Marwan Kenzari Joins Ralph Fiennes & Juliette Binoche In 'The Return'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
- ^ Roxborough, Scott (February 15, 2023). "Bleecker Street Takes North American Rights to 'The Return' Starring Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
- ^ "THE RETURN: Filming of series about Odysseus wraps up in Corfu". Greek City Times. June 1, 2023. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
- ^ D'alessandro, Anthony (July 22, 2024). "TIFF Galas & Special Presentations Lineup Includes World Premieres from Angelina Jolie, Mike Leigh, Gia Coppola; Starry Pics with Jennifer Lopez, Lily James, Dave Bautista; Int'l Premieres 'Conclave' & 'Piece by Piece', More". Deadline.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 18, 2024). "Ralph Fiennes & Juliette Binoche Reteam 'The Return' Sets December Theatrical Release Via Bleecker Street". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
- ^ "The Return". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
- ^ "The Return". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
- ^ Walsh, Katie (December 6, 2024). "Review: A new take on 'The Odyssey,' 'The Return' finds its way home slowly, just like its hero". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 15, 2024. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
- ^ Catsoulis, Jeannette (December 8, 2024). "'The Return' Review: Homer, for the Holidays". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 8, 2024. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
- ^ Atad, Corey (December 6, 2024). "'The Return' review: A buff Ralph Fiennes goes on a rugged cinematic odyssey". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on December 15, 2024. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
External links
edit- The Return at IMDb