Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes Reunite for 'The Return,' a Modern Take on Homer's 'Odyssey'

The film, directed by Uberto Pasolini, focuses on the human struggles of Odysseus and Penelope, omitting the mythological elements of the original epic.

• Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes reunite nearly 30 years after 'English Patient' to star in 'The Return,' a retelling of Homer's 'Odyssey.'
• Directed by Uberto Pasolini, the film emphasizes the emotional and familial challenges faced by Odysseus and Penelope, stripping away the gods and monsters from the original epic.
• Binoche plays Penelope, grappling with abandonment and resilience, while Fiennes portrays a guilt-ridden and war-weary Odysseus returning to a fractured Ithaca.
• The screenplay, co-written by Pasolini and others, focuses on the final chapters of 'The Odyssey,' exploring themes of trauma, healing, and reconnection.
• Critical reception highlights strong performances by Binoche and Fiennes but notes the film's solemn tone and lack of the grandeur often associated with the source material.

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