48/15
Synopsis
After 20 years away, Odysseus decides to return
The king has finally returned home, but much has changed in his kingdom since he left to fight in the Trojan War. This is the third time Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche have starred together in a film.
They have previously worked together in The English Patient and Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights
Focused on immersing the viewer in the multi-faceted pain and suffering of Penelope and Odysseus during Odysseus’ return home to Ithaca, this treatise felt like it explored quite systematically the challenges that many soldiers face upon returning from active duty, including PTSD and other mental health issues, reintegration into their former lives with family and society, and flashbacks of memories and pain both endured and inflicted, and the resulting inner change that is irreversible. The Return is fueled by a wide variety of casts to allow the viewer to experience this rollercoaster ride that the two key protagonists ride to significant heights, the latter thanks to the unique and remarkable resilience of both Penelope and Ulysses during this difficult time in their lives.
and without support from each other
In fact, the two are kept quite apart for most of the build-up, which makes the catharsis stronger in the later, more intense, thriller-like, slower-burning part of the film. Fiennes brings his unique style of portraying suffering to this work – a great extension of his wonderful skill set from his adjacent portrayals of pain and anguish in Spider and The End of the Affair.
This is a great and very relevant work that needs to be experienced!
Binoche is the perfect choice for Penelope, as the viewer could be somewhat tricked into feeling and hoping that the two will reunite in much the same way that they were brought together throughout The English Patient, and Pasolini exploits this to create additional tension in this work for those whose memory of The English Patient is vivid. Check out our list of exciting new films from this year’s film festivals, including Venice, TIFF, New York Film Festival and more.
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