The Return (2024) - Film Review

      The Return, 2024,

      Directed by Uberto Pasolini.

      Featuring Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Charlie Plummer, Marwan Kenzari, Claudio Santamaria, Ángela Molina, Amir Wilson, Jamie Andrew Cutler, Moe Bar-El, Amesh Edireweera, Jaz Hutchins, Aaron Cobham, Ayman Al Aboud, Nicolas Exequiel Retrivi Mora, Giorgio Antonini, Matthew T. Reynolds, Fabius De Vivo, Magaajyia Silberfeld, Handrinou Ileana, Kaiti Manolidaki, Francesco Dwight Bianchi, Pavlos Iordanopoulos, Roberto Serpi, Stefano Santomauro, Maxim Gallozzi, Karandish Hanie, and Cosimo Desii.

      SYNOPSIS:

      After two decades, Odysseus decides to return. The King has finally arrived back home, but much has changed in his kingdom since he left to participate in the Trojan War.

      The Return is indeed an apt title. Directed by Uberto Pasolini, this film presents a slow yet compelling character-focused narrative about Greek king Odysseus’s (Ralph Fiennes) journey back to Ithaca after being absent during the Trojan War. Upon washing ashore as a disheveled beggar, it slowly becomes clear that he is reluctant to return, grappling with feelings of shame and regret over the ruthless, violent man he had to become to secure victory, not to mention the countless deaths of his men during the fall of Troy, made possible by his ingenious creation of the massive wooden horse used to infiltrate the city.

      Having been gone for a decade, Odysseus’s wife, Penelope (Juliette Binoche), still holds on to hope despite the likelihood of his demise, refusing to remarry any of the numerous suitors incessantly pursuing her. In contrast, their son Telemachus (Charlie Plummer) harbors a more defeated mindset, believing that the father he scarcely knew is dead, that their current peace is merely a façade, and that his mother must choose a suitor soon.

      These three profoundly talented actors convincingly portray the psychological burden that years of uncertainty and anguish have imposed on them. Penelope's loyalty and resilience come through, as Juliette Binoche adeptly portrays the internal struggle of a woman on the verge of breaking, aware she may need to select one of these unsavory men.

      Those familiar with Greek mythology likely recognize the creative bow-and-arrow challenge she sets for one suitor to demonstrate his worth. This moment also marks a shift in the film towards a more explosive, action-oriented, and mythologically focused narrative. Moreover, as Penelope continues to stall, some suitors become increasingly hostile and threatening toward Telemachus, despite a few astutely noting that harming him won’t achieve their goals.

      Until that point, The Return primarily focuses on the act of returning, circling around familiar plot points, even though it's commendable that the filmmakers (with a screenplay by Uberto Pasolini, Edward Bond, and John Collee) concentrate more on the human narratives underlying the tales of war and Greek mythology. Ralph Fiennes is equally skillful as a man who struggles to confront his wife after his wartime actions, roaming about in his humble guise. Naturally, he grows more agitated by his wife’s situation.

      As two long-lost lovers approach a breaking point, the slow-burn narrative approach proves effective. However, The Return also feels somewhat underdeveloped and lingers longer than necessary, with a number of weak supporting characters and rather standard direction; for a film based on Greek mythology, it is disappointing that there is little visually impressive aside from Ralph Fiennes’ physique for a role that includes only one action scene. That climax is intense and fulfilling (even if rather bloodless for a portion), but the path to it is frustratingly slow-paced, featuring stagnant storytelling.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★

      Robert Kojder is part of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He also serves as the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at [email protected].