L Odissea 1997 ✦

Upon its US broadcast (NBC, May 18–19, 1997), L'Odissea received strong reviews. The New York Times called it "the rare television epic that honors its source without feeling like a lecture." Critics praised Assante’s ferocious performance, with Variety noting he "makes Russell Crowe’s Maximus look like a well-fed centurion."

Meanwhile, Penelope fends off 108 suitors led by Antinous (played by Richard Treloar) and Eurymachus. Telemachus (Alan Stenson), now a young man, searches for his father. l odissea 1997

The 1997 television miniseries L'Odissea (The Odyssey), directed by Andrei Konchalovsky , is a widely acclaimed adaptation of Homer's epic poem. It follows the Greek hero Odysseus as he attempts to return to Ithaca after the Trojan War, facing ten years of divine obstacles and mythical monsters. IMDb +2 Production Overview Director: Andrei Konchalovsky. Release Year: 1997. Runtime: Approximately 176 minutes (2 hours and 56 minutes). Filming Locations: The production was filmed across the Mediterranean, including locations in Malta and Turkey . Key Cast: Odysseus: Armand Assante. Penelope: Greta Scacchi. Athena: Isabella Rossellini. Circe: Bernadette Peters. Calypso: Vanessa Williams. IMDb +3 Plot Summary The Departure: After the fall of Troy, Odysseus boasts that he does not need the help of the gods, offending Poseidon. The Trials: For ten years, Odysseus and his crew face numerous perils, including: Polyphemus: The man-eating Cyclops. Circe: The enchantress who transforms his men into swine. The Underworld: Where he seeks a prophecy from Tiresias. Scylla and Charybdis: A terrifying sea monster and a massive whirlpool. The Sirens: Creatures whose songs lure sailors to their deaths. The Return: After losing his entire crew and spending seven years on Calypso's island, Odysseus finally reaches Ithaca. Disguised as a beggar, he reunites with his son Telemachus (played by Alan Stenson) and defeats the suitors vying for his wife, Penelope. IMDb +2 Critical Perspective While the series is praised for its impressive special effects and capturing the grandeur of the epic, scholars note that it is a dramatized version and occasionally deviates from the original literary source to fit a television narrative. CliffsNotes Further Exploration Read a full synopsis and production details on the Official IMDb page for the 1997 miniseries. Explore a critical comparison between this film adaptation and Homer's original text at Upon its US broadcast (NBC, May 18–19, 1997),

The second half opens with the (represented as ethereal, screeching spirits on razor-sharp rocks), the monstrous Scylla (a six-headed serpent who eats six men) and Charybdis (a massive whirlpool). After the shipwreck and the loss of all his men, Odysseus washes ashore on Ogygia with Calypso. Eventually freed by Hermes (per Zeus’ order), he sails to Phaeacia and finally reaches Ithaca. Release Year: 1997