Christopher Nolan's film, The Odyssey, has drawn criticism for its depiction of female characters, despite initial praise for casting choices such as Lupita Nyong’o as Helen and Elliot Page as Sinon the soldier. These casting decisions were seen as a departure from conventional Hollywood portrayals of Greek myth.
However, an ancient Greek literature scholar noted that while Nolan's women are often strong and central to his anti-war theme, they primarily fulfil singular roles like wife or mother. This approach reportedly diminishes the sexual and intellectual complexity found in Homer's original poem, where female characters exhibit vibrant desires, agency, and choices.
For instance, Nolan's Penelope, though skilled in delaying suitors, never performs the crucial test of Odysseus's identity after his return, a moment that in Homer's account highlights her cunning. Similarly, Helen is presented as a minor, repentant figure, a contrast to Homer's more complex and engaging portrayal that includes her cunning and sexuality.
Circe, however, is highlighted as the most engaging of Nolan's female characters, with the film using her to comment on sexual violence as a strategy of warfare. This builds on modern interpretations of Circe's craft as a defence against male violence.