What The Odyssey shows us about great storytelling
- Paul Breau
- Jul 26
- 2 min read
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is a visual spectacle, but its real power lies in how it tells a great story. While at first, I felt the movie was slightly 'cold' on an emotional level, I have continued to think about it long afterward. I'm no expert on The Odyssey, but it's almost impossible not to see how influencial this story has been to the art of storytelling.
I've enjoyed watching the Percy Jackson movies and television series with my daughter and seeing The Odyssey with her was a real treat.
Joseph Campbell used The Odyssey as one of the main examples of the classic hero's journey (monomyth) blueprint in his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces. And whether you're directing a film, writing a novel, or crafting a script, this epic reveals the blueprint for hooking an audience.
Character First, Action Second
Before an audience cares about the battle, they have to care about the person. Matt Damon’s Odysseus isn’t an invincible superhero (ripped though he is) —he’s a exhausted, desperate father fighting to get back to his family. Establishing what a character stands to lose gives every conflict real weight.
Layer On Subtext and Flaws
The surface plot is a ten-year journey home. It's very exciting, with twists and turns and challenges around every corner. Hower, what I enjoyed most about Nolan's movie was his examination of subtext in the film. Did part of Odysseus hesitate to return?
Survivor’s Guilt: After a decade of war, stepping back into peaceful domestic life as a husband and father is terrifying.
Avoidance: Staying lost on Calypso’s island defers his reality. His cunning skills are great in combat, but useless in peacetime.
Fear of Re-entry: Disguising himself as a beggar upon his return isn't just tactical—it’s a shield to test if he still belongs.
Flaws, doubts, and psychological friction are what make a hero feel human. Odysseus has them all in abundance.
Keep the Clock Ticking
Stories drag when the pacing stays flat. By cross-cutting between three storylines—Odysseus at sea, Telemachus searching for him, and Penelope holding off suitors in Ithaca—the film creates constant urgency. Pacing isn't about moving fast; it's about making every scene feel like time is running out.
Match the Outer Quest to the Inner Journey
The physical monsters (Cyclopes, Sirens, Scylla) are just vehicles for character growth. Odysseus starts as a prideful conqueror and returns as a humbled, patient man. An external win is only satisfying if the hero earns it through internal transformation.
The Bottom Line
I left the cinema thinking about the basic principles of good storytelling:
Build empathy early.
Give your character internal conflict.
Keep the pressure on.
Change the character from the inside out.
Use specific details to build the world.
After watching the movie, my daughter said, "It took Odysseus 20 years - Percy Jackson could have done all that in a weekend!"
I hope you're all having a wonderful summer.
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