The central theme of Homer’s Odyssey is the return home. But what does it mean to return after a war when both you and the world around you have changed? In Nolan’s modern interpretation, the story of Odysseus becomes a reflection not only on an individual’s fate but also on the crisis of an entire civilisation. How can a shattered order be restored, and what should be left for future generations?

One of the fundamental principles of Homer’s world is xenia, the sacred law of hospitality, a cornerstone of ancient Greek civilisation. Penelope’s suitors violate this law: arriving as guests, they begin to behave as masters of the house. Our discussion also turned to the Trojan Horse: Odysseus’s deceptive gift becomes a symbol of the destruction of trust and civilised order.

In Homer’s epic, Odysseus kills the suitors and reclaims his authority. But viewed through Nolan’s contemporary lens, a question arises: if war is destructive, why is further violence perceived as the restoration of justice? Here lies a paradox of civilisation: it seeks to restrain violence while retaining the right to use it.

In Homer’s epic, Odysseus’s return signifies the restoration of his place within his family and society. In Nolan’s ending, the return takes on a different meaning: Odysseus and Penelope depart, making way for Telemachus. The return ends in departure. The old world gives way to the new. But what kind of world will emerge? And will the next generation be able to live without war?