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“Ultimate dog movie”… Nolan’s ‘Odyssey’ had dog Charlie behind it

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Director Christopher Nolan described his film 'Oppenheimer' as the "ultimate dog movie."
  • The film features a poignant scene where Odysseus's hunting dog, Argos, recognizes his master after 20 years.
  • Nolan adopted a Labrador named Charlie, which inspired the film's working title, 'Charlie's Tale.'

Director Christopher Nolan has described his latest film, 'Oppenheimer,' as the "ultimate dog movie," revealing that his personal experience as a dog owner influenced its creation.

'Oppenheimer' is truly the ultimate dog movie. Thanks to becoming a pet owner, I was able to film the best dog movie.

— Christopher NolanDescribing his film and the influence of his dog.

The film, which opened on August 5, draws from Homer's epic poem 'The Odyssey.' A particularly touching scene mirrors the original work, where Odysseus's loyal hunting dog, Argos, is the first to recognize his master after a 20-year absence. Nolan shared in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that his children had always wanted a dog, but frequent travel made it impossible until recently. Adopting a Labrador named Charlie inspired the film's working title, 'Charlie's Tale.'

The kids always wanted a dog, but we traveled so much that we couldn't raise one. Thanks to raising a dog, I was better prepared to make the movie.

— Christopher NolanExplaining how becoming a dog owner influenced his readiness to direct the film.

'Oppenheimer' has been praised for its modern interpretation of the ancient epic, exploring themes beyond a simple hero's homecoming, such as war trauma and patriarchal violence. The film incorporates dogs at its beginning and climax. Early scenes depict the selection of hunting dogs and puppies, including a harsh moment where puppies are thrown off a cliff to illustrate the world's brutality, a scene Nolan intended to immediately convey the harshness of the setting.

I think I'm going to be the most hated character in movie history.

— John LeguizamoActor playing Eumaeus, expressing concern over his character's actions in a scene involving puppies.

In contrast, the later appearance of Argos provides a heartwarming reunion. The aged dog, lying in a dung heap, recognizes his disguised master and wags his tail before passing away. This scene is one of the most famous from the original 'Odyssey' and a celebrated moment in Western cultural history. The dog portraying Argos is a Portuguese Podengo, an ancient breed historically used for hunting rabbits, as depicted in the film.

This scene was conceived from the beginning of the film production. I wanted to show the audience at once how rough and brutal this world is.

— Christopher NolanExplaining the intention behind the harsh scene involving puppies.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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