At first glance, The Return might seem like heavy relationship drama. It might seem like a period piece – which it is – but it’s so much more than that. Most relationship films have the formulaic “boy gets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back” (or vice versa), and this is no different. However, it’s in a different light that we see how the story unfolds in this film interpretation of Homer’s The Odyssey.
The Odyssey and The Return
Homer’s The Odyssey has transcended time in that it is not just a story of battle and adventure; it’s a tale of love lost. Homer’s epic piece has been translated time and time again. It is used as a theme for many other stories – and it has had multiple film adaptations throughout the years. In fact, a Chris Nolan-directed movie with Matt Damon as Odysseus is expected sometime within the next year.
In The Return, only the last six weeks of Odysseus’s odyssey is examined. It is literally just that – the return of the king to his kingdom. The film’s two stars, Ralph (say Rafe) Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, are excellent in their portrayals of Odysseus and Penelope. The two bring depth, raw emotion, and guilt-ridden performances as a long-separated couple.
The Return is a Return to Simplicity
In some ways, yes, The Return is a stripped-down version of The Odyssey. Without Poseidon’s trident, the Cyclops’ fight, and Athena’s strategic sorcery, it shows us a simple yet driven portrayal of a man just trying to get home to his woman and child. However, The Return runs deeper than that. Binoche and Fiennes deliver impeccable performances, with each centering on a love lost, despair, hope, and ultimately a reunion.
Finally, A Return to A Kingdom
King Odysseus, in his journey to Ithaca, is recognized by his loyal herder, Eumæus, his faithful dog, Argos, and eventually his son, Telemachus. When he comes upon Queen Penelope, Binoche’s nuanced and tempered reaction is one of ambiguity.
Eventually, a plan is devised, and Odysseus and his small crew handily defeat the evil and opportunistic suitors who have inhabited the castle for years. This part truly harkens back to a hard-fought battle to win a lost love. Ralph Fiennes brings considerable strength and intensity to reaching this point in his battle.
The Return’s two main stars, Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes, have not worked together since 1992’s Wuthering Heights and The English Patient, which was in 1996. The two leads have an undeniable chemistry, which is front and center of this movie. That is the viewer’s reward for this satisfying homecoming.
