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The Return

Play trailer 2:15 Poster for The Return R 2024 1h 56m Adventure Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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78% Tomatometer 93 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 100+ Verified Ratings
After 20 years away, Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes) washes up on the shores of Ithaca, haggard and unrecognizable. The King has returned from the Trojan War, but much has changed in his kingdom. His beloved wife Penelope (Juliette Binoche) is a prisoner in her own home, hounded by suitors vying to be king. Their son Telemachus faces death at the hands of these suitors, who see him as merely an obstacle to their pursuit of the kingdom. Odysseus has also changed--scarred by his experience of the Trojan war, he is no longer the mighty warrior from years past--but he must rediscover his strength in order to win back all that he has lost.
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The Return

The Return

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Critics Consensus

The Return removes the mythology from Odysseus' homecoming along with some of the fun, but Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche's terrific performances keep this drama absorbing.

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Critics Reviews

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Ty Burr Ty Burr's Watch List (Substack) Dec 6
3.5/4
t’s a haunting, primal first feature about two young brothers and the reappearance of their long-absent father. Go to Full Review Ben Nicholson Sight & Sound Nov 5
Eschewing the fantastical voyages not only allows Pasolini to ground his version of the story in a more realistic setting but brings the psychology of the characters to the fore. Go to Full Review Wendy Ide Observer (UK) Apr 15
4/5
The main draw is the cast, with Ralph Fiennes sinewy and racked by self-doubt and guilt as Odysseus, returned from war after a 20-year absence, and a compelling turn from Juliette Binoche as Penelope. Both are terrific, but Binoche is the standout. Go to Full Review Mariló Delgado Espinof Sep 3
4/5
Pasolini's film lacks the glamour of a blockbuster or fantasy film. It focuses on showing us the human side of the story, seeking its rawest and most realistic aspect, a psychological drama set in Bronze Age Greece.[Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Antonio Trashorras Fotogramas Aug 25
3/5
...[Uberto Pasolini's] approach, both creative and industrial, breaks away from the commercialism and spectacularity that audiences outside of high-end cinephiles would expect from a production with a star-studded cast. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Luis Martínez El Mundo (Spain) Aug 22
3/5
Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche dignify a rereading of the classic that is as faithful and free as it is pressing and somewhat tiresome. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Lizzie 12/28/2024 Loved it. Roofing story of myth, made modern onscreen. See more Chase 12/24/2024 Strong flick. Could’ve benefited from being slightly shorter. See more k 12/19/2024 Slow-burn, humanizing story that remained true to the original work while not getting bogged down in the heroic/mythical aspects of the epic. Incredible acting, beautiful filming. Slow pace, but kept you at the edge of your seat the entire time. It felt so real. This is how the story should be done See more Daniel M 12/18/2024 Another Oscar Contender for "Best Pitcher", "Best Actor, & Actress",Best Screen Play"! See more kevin l 12/17/2024 It was a slow movie. very basic story line See more Wendy 12/17/2024 Such a good movie. not getting nearly enough hype. Great acting! Great retelling of a story. See more Read all reviews
The Return

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Cast & Crew

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Uberto Pasolini

Director

Ralph Fiennes

Odysseus

Juliette Binoche

Penelope

Charlie Plummer

Telemachus

Marwan Kenzari

Antinous

Claudio Santamaria

Eumeo

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The Return

The Return: Featurette - Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche The Return: Featurette - Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche 1:00 The Return: Trailer 1 The Return: Trailer 1 2:15 View more videos
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The Return

The Return (2024) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis After 20 years away, Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes) washes up on the shores of Ithaca, haggard and unrecognizable. The King has returned from the Trojan War, but much has changed in his kingdom. His beloved wife Penelope (Juliette Binoche) is a prisoner in her own home, hounded by suitors vying to be king. Their son Telemachus faces death at the hands of these suitors, who see him as merely an obstacle to their pursuit of the kingdom. Odysseus has also changed--scarred by his experience of the Trojan war, he is no longer the mighty warrior from years past--but he must rediscover his strength in order to win back all that he has lost.
Director
Uberto Pasolini
Producer
Uberto Pasolini, James Clayton, Roberto Sessa, Giorgos Karnavas, Konstantinos Kontovravkis, Stéphane Moatti, Romain Le Grand, Vivien Aslanian, Marco Pacchioni
Screenwriter
John Collee, Edward Bond, Uberto Pasolini
Distributor
Bleecker Street
Production Co
Redwave Films
Rating
R (Language|Graphic Nudity|Some Sexual Content|Violence)
Genre
Adventure, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 6, 2024, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 27, 2024
Runtime
1h 56m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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