Christopher Nolan has been criticized for taking pictures parts of Common’s all-star epic The Odyssey in Morocco-occupied Western Sahara.
The embellished British director has been filming close to the coastal metropolis of Dakhla, which is a part of a area that the United Nations has designated as a “non‑self‑governing territory” since 1963.
The territory, which has develop into a magnet for big-budget shoots like Amazon collection The Wheel of Time, isn’t legally a part of Morocco, however the U.S. and UK are amongst Western governments to not too long ago endorse the North African nation’s declare over the land.
The Western Sahara Worldwide Movie Competition (FiSahara), which takes place within the Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria, referred to as on Nolan to urgently halt taking pictures within the area. Common has been contacted for remark.
“Dakhla is not only a stupendous location with cinematic sand dunes. Primarily, it’s an occupied, militarised metropolis whose indigenous Sahrawi inhabitants is topic to brutal repression by occupying Moroccan forces,” the pageant mentioned.
“By filming a part of The Odyssey in an occupied territory billed as a ‘information black gap’ by Reporters With out Borders, Nolan and his workforce, maybe unknowingly and unwillingly, are contributing to the repression of the Sahrawi folks by Morocco.”
In a press release, FiSahara continued: “We’re positive that have been they to grasp the total implications of filming reminiscent of high-profile movie in a territory whose indigenous peoples are unable to make their very own movies about their tales below occupation, Nolan and his workforce could be horrified.”
“Morocco routinely touts Sahrawi cultural expressions as uniquely Moroccan. They created a movie pageant in Dakhla to counter ours, and produce high-budget movies that painting Western Sahara as a part of Morocco. Nevertheless, Sahrawis making an attempt to make movies about their lives are persecuted and should work clandestinely and at nice danger to themselves and their households.”
FiSahara has been supported by outstanding actors together with Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz up to now.
The Odyssey is led by Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Himesh Patel, Elliott Web page, Invoice Irwin, Samantha Morton, Jesse Garcia, Will Yun Lee, and Corey Hawkins.
The movie, at the moment set for a launch in IMAX on July 17, 2026, has been taking pictures at areas in Morocco, Italy, Eire, and Scotland. Based mostly on Homer’s epic poem, the story follows Odysseus (performed by Damon), King of Ithaca, on his harmful journey dwelling after the Trojan Conflict.
Throughout his voyage, the protagonist faces Polyphemus the Cyclops, Sirens, the nymph Calypso and the witch goddess Circe within the treacherous oceans that separate him from his island dwelling and spouse Penelope, who unravels a marriage prepare that she weaves each night time within the occasion that one of many suitors who’ve taken over her dwelling finally ends up marrying her ought to her husband not return. His reminiscence can be guarded by his son Telemachus (performed by Holland). The story additionally options Gods together with Athena, Poseidon and Zeus.
