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The following contains spoilers for The Odyssey, now playing in theaters.
Christopher Nolan's adaptation of The Odyssey was surrounded by controversy in the months leading up to its release. As details about the film came to light, naysayers took issue with everything from the lack of Greek gods to the use of American accents and modern vernacular. Most of all, detractors protested loudly against the casting of certain actors, particularly Lupita Nyong'o as both Helen and Clytemnestra.
While some simply objected to the lack of Greek actors in The Odyssey's sprawling cast, other detractors were quick to single Nyong'o out with bad-faith criticisms and thinly veiled racism. However, as an Academy Award-winning actress, her abilities should never have been in doubt. Nyong'o delivers a standout performance, making her one of The Odyssey's best casting choices.
Backlash to Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy Was Always Overblown
From the moment it was announced, the outcry against Nyong'o's casting has been overblown. As anyone who's read Homer's Odyssey knows, Helen of Troy, aka Helen of Sparta, is barely in the story, and Clytemnestra is only mentioned posthumously. Their roles in Nolan's Odyssey are likewise limited, amounting to less than five minutes of screen time in an almost three-hour movie.
Nolan has always defended his decision to cast Nyong'o, stating in an interview with Elle Magazine that she had the acting abilities needed to play his take on the characters. Considering her illustrious career and previous experience playing a dual role in Jordan Peele's Us, it makes sense that the director would find her up to the task of embodying two separate characters.
As those who've seen the movie can attest, Nolan's faith was not misplaced. Nyong'o's roles are both brief but extremely memorable and important to his version of The Odyssey. She perfectly captures Clytemnestra's rage at Agamemnon, as well as Helen's suppressed anger and regret at the atrocities committed in her name. It may only amount to a few minutes, but Nyong'o makes every second count.
Nyong'o's Dual Role Is One of The Odyssey's Best Creative Decisions
Traditionally, Helen and Clytemnestra are depicted as half-sisters, but in Nolan's Odyssey, they are identical twins. This change had many viewers scratching their heads when it was announced, but there is a point to it in the movie. In fact, it's arguably one of Nolan's best alterations to the story and further proves that Nyong'o was the best actor for the job.
The Trojan War, as depicted in Homer's Iliad, was fought to retrieve the uniquely beautiful Helen from Troy, with different versions of the story varying on whether she went willingly or was kidnapped by Prince Paris. In Nolan's Odyssey, Agamemnon just wanted to conquer the powerful city and used Helen as an excuse. By making Helen and Clytemnestra twins, the adaptation shows just how flimsy an excuse this is.
Although the movie doesn't clarify whether Helen went willingly or not, it's clear that she's not happy about being made into a scapegoat for the war. Nyong'o's Helen is the picture of poise as she dines with her husband, Menelaus, even when he reveals the scars on her face, presumably a punishment from him. That said, she's not afraid to bite back, bitterly reminding him of her sister's vengeance.
Most notably, Nyong'o's Helen also carries the guilt of the Trojan War, even if it wasn't truly her fault. Her final rushed message, asking Telemachus to apologize to his mother on her behalf for the war that took her husband away, shows her empathy and sense of responsibility. Her feelings even parallel Odysseus, who carries immense guilt about enabling Troy's fall in this version of the story.
Homer's Helen was rather two-dimensional and capricious, being content to return to Menelaus after the war and only mildly remorseful about all the death and destruction caused by her leaving him. In contrast, Nolan's version of Helen is rightfully angry about how she's been treated. She might not have killed her husband, but as Nyong'o's performance demonstrates, she carries the same fire as her sister.
Depicting two characters in a single movie is no easy task, nor is imbuing a character with such emotional complexity in a few short scenes. And yet, Nyong'o makes it look effortless. Clytemnestra's righteous fury as she kills her husband is visceral, and it contrasts greatly with Helen's quiet wrath and guilt over the Trojan War. Nyong'o's casting may have been met with backlash, but it was one of the best decisions made for The Odyssey.
