Greek PM thanks Christopher Nolan for The Odyssey, praises cultural impact and box office success

Despite criticism over the lack of Greek actors in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has expressed strong support for the film.

In a recent video call with the British director, Mitsotakis praised the record-breaking blockbuster, according to Euronews.

Boosting Interest in Greek Civilisation

According to a press statement from the PM's office, Mitsotakis thanked Nolan for "boosting global interest in ancient Greek civilisation," adding that "such productions bridge Greece's rich cultural heritage with contemporary creativity."

Sales of The Odyssey text have skyrocketed since the film's release, the BBC reports.

Praise for Greek Filming Locations

Mitsotakis also commended the Tenet director's use of Greek locations. Parts of the movie were shot in the Peloponnese region, including:

• Voidokilia Beach
• The 13th-century Methoni Castle
• The monolithic Acrocorinth overlooking Corinth
• Almyrolaka Beach
• Nestor's Cave

The Prime Minister reportedly also noted the movie's "great box office success."

Box Office Performance

The Odyssey is already the second-highest-grossing R-rated movie Universal has made since Nolan's other major hit, Oppenheimer. The film has earned $639.6 million (£480.5 million) globally since its release on 17 July.

Scholarly Criticism

The praise from Greece's leader comes after classical studies professor Emily Wilson — whose 2017 translation of The Odyssey appears to have inspired Nolan's version — criticised the film in the London Review of Books.

Comparing the three-hour epic to "an elaborate Fourth of July fireworks display – and with about the same level of narrative and emotional depth," Wilson suggested the movie was "too underdeveloped to deliver what it half-promises in terms of big ideas – although it is very good at conveying big bangs and big giants."