Irish Film Institute -ODYSSEYS SEASON

ODYSSEYS SEASON

While there are a handful of epics that predate Homer’s poem, itself written almost three millennia ago, it is considered the oldest example in European literature of a story in which a hero is forced to overcome many travails across their peregrinations before gratefully, finally arriving home. The influence of its structure and content has endured to the present day in a diverse range of work, from Tolkien’s The Lord Of The Rings to television’s Battlestar Galactica and of course, James Joyce’s Ulysses. The Odyssey has also proved fertile ground for filmmakers, the scope and scale of the story inspiring any number of road movies and depictions of the impact of prolonged absence not just on those who leave, but on those who remain.

This season of films touches upon some of the many facets of Homer’s incredibly rich work, from its portrayal of a weary traveller’s desire for home and family to the impact of violence on the psyche of a soldier. There is also room for retellings, whether in the Coen Brothers’ playful update or Franco Piavoli’s rarely screened version. All of these films stand as testament to the legacy of a writer about whom little is known, but whose work has endured across thousands of years to become part of the DNA of storytelling.

Season notes by Kevin Coyne.

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The season accompanies the IFI’s exclusive 70mm presentation of Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated The Odyssey, tracing the many ways in which the core themes of journey, exile, homecoming, and survival continue to resonate throughout cinema.

NOW BOOKING 

Book now for cinema screenings via https://ifi.ie/odysseys/ or via IFI Box Office in-person or over the phone via 01 679 5744. 

Season bundles are available for IFI Members only: 

3 Film Pass*  €30 
6 Film Pass*  €60 
12 Film Pass*  €120 

 

These packages can only be booked by IFI Members in-person or by calling the IFI Box Office on 01 679 5744. See https://ifi.ie/support for full details on IFI Membership and to sign up. 

The films in this season are available for 25 & Under cardholder pricing. Sign-up is free for the 25 & Under card for those aged 16-25. See https://ifi.ie/25under for full details.

Programme

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The IFI is supported
by The Arts Council

Arts Council of Ireland