"The Return" tells an ancient story that still resonates today.

Summary

Consider This from NPR: Episode Summary – "The Return"

Release Date: December 6, 2024

In the December 6, 2024 episode of NPR's "Consider This," host Mary Louise Kelly delves into the recently released film "The Return," an evocative adaptation of Homer's ancient epic, The Odyssey. This episode, titled "The Return," explores how the timeless story resonates in contemporary cinema, highlighting the reunion of esteemed actors Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes after 28 years since their collaboration in The English Patient (1996).

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Introduction to "The Return"

Mary Louise Kelly opens the discussion by setting the stage with a dramatic reenactment from the film:

Mary Louise Kelly [00:00]: "Here's a story for you. A warrior king has just washed up on a beach. He's been gone for 20 years. His wife, the queen, has been waiting, pining for his return. And this is all unfolding on the island of Ithaca. Yes, we are talking about the Odyssey, the epic poem by Homer."

This introduction immediately ties the ancient narrative to the modern cinematic interpretation, emphasizing the universal and enduring nature of the story.

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Plot and Character Exploration

Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche embody the iconic characters of King Odysseus and Queen Penelope, respectively. The film picks up at the culmination of Odysseus's arduous journey home from the Trojan War, highlighting the emotional and psychological toll of his prolonged absence.

Ralph Fiennes provides a deep dive into the character's transformation:

Ralph Fiennes [04:04]: "He's been at war for 10 years initially, and then a further 10 years traveling, all kinds of adventures... But what the director, Alberto Pasolini, wanted to emphasize was the cost on his soul of being away for so long."

This insight reveals that the film focuses not just on the physical journey but also on the internal battles faced by Odysseus, portraying him as a "wreck of a person" grappling with his past actions and their repercussions.

Juliette Binoche discusses Penelope's multifaceted role:

Juliette Binoche [05:15]: "Penelope is somehow different. It's not just the waiting wife being a saint. She's a woman with feelings, with needs and fighting those, you know, feelings of anger and feelings of feeling abandoned."

Binoche emphasizes Penelope's complexity, highlighting her struggle to maintain sanity and leadership amidst turmoil and uncertainty. This modern portrayal moves beyond the traditional depiction, offering a nuanced character that audiences can deeply relate to.

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Climactic Reunion Scene

A pivotal moment in both the film and the episode is the long-awaited reunion between Odysseus and Penelope. The actors recreate the tension and emotional depth of this encounter:

Juliette Binoche [06:22]: "Did you hear of my husband in your travels? He must be dead. The man who left would never have stayed away from his son, his wife, his people."

Ralph Fiennes [06:44]: "Perhaps she's afraid."

The scene is meticulously crafted to leave the audience questioning whether Penelope recognizes Odysseus. The director's intentional ambiguity allows viewers to project their interpretations, making the moment both suspenseful and emotionally charged.

Juliette Binoche reflects on the portrayal of recognition:

Juliette Binoche [07:13]: "It's not very clear in the book, is it, whether she recognizes him or not. But I think, how could she not recognize him? They were married. She knows his voice."

She credits the director and the editing team for maintaining this deliberate uncertainty, enhancing the dramatic effect.

Ralph Fiennes adds depth to their interaction:

Ralph Fiennes [07:29]: "When I played it, I think I knew you had seen me. I knew it and I knew... There's a sort of weird thing holding us back because the distance... it's a wonderful piece of writing, that we are held back."

This exchange underscores the emotional restraint and unspoken recognition between the characters, reflecting the profound impact of their separation.

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The Challenge of the Bow

The bow serves as a critical symbol in both The Odyssey and "The Return." Mary Louise Kelly elucidates its significance:

Mary Louise Kelly [08:28]: "The bow is this giant bow that only Odysseus in his youth could string and shoot through. What is it? 12 arrowheads, 12 axe heads. The perfect shot."

The challenge of the bow represents Odysseus's enduring strength and legitimacy as king, questioning whether a battle-worn warrior can still embody the prowess of his youth.

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A Reunion After Decades

One of the episode's highlights is the heartfelt reunion between Fiennes and Binoche:

Ralph Fiennes [09:14]: "We've been friends over the years, but when this project brought us together, I think we both recognized there was a kind of it felt inevitable."

Their chemistry and shared history enrich the film, adding layers of authenticity and emotional resonance to their on-screen characters.

Juliette Binoche recounts the casting process:

Juliette Binoche [09:16]: "Don't say no. Please say yes. It was your idea."

Their playful banter reveals the ease and camaraderie that underpin their professional relationship, further enhancing their performances.

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Behind the Scenes

The collaboration between Fiennes and Binoche extends beyond acting. Ralph Fiennes shares insights into the creative process:

Ralph Fiennes [09:55]: "Sometimes you can't see the thing that's in front of you, and that's just human blindness. So I couldn't see that Juliet Binoche had to play Penelope with me. That was a door opened, a crack in a window by our director."

This statement highlights the organic development of their partnership, guided by director Alberto Pasolini's vision, which eventually led to a serendipitous casting decision that benefits the film immensely.

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Conclusion and Reflections

As the episode wraps up, Mary Louise Kelly reflects on the significance of the actors' reunion and the film's impact:

Mary Louise Kelly [10:24]: "Well, it was the right call. Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, this has been a great pleasure. Thank you both so much."

The conversation not only celebrates the film's artistic achievements but also underscores the enduring bond between the actors, making "The Return" a compelling addition to both their careers and the legacy of The Odyssey.

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Production Credits and Acknowledgments

Mary Louise Kelly concludes the episode by acknowledging the production team and inviting listeners to support NPR:

"This episode was produced by Katherine Fink. It was edited by Sarah Handel and Jeanette Woods. Our executive producer is Sami Unigan."

She also highlights the importance of listeners' support in maintaining the quality and independence of NPR's journalism.

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Supporting Content and Segments

Towards the end of the transcript, the episode transitions into sponsor messages and promotions for other NPR content, including personal finance coverage and the popular podcast "This American Life." These segments are integral to NPR's programming but were excluded from the main summary as per the request to focus solely on content-rich sections.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Mary Louise Kelly [00:00]: Introduction to the story akin to The Odyssey.
• Ralph Fiennes [04:04]: Discusses the internal toll on Odysseus's character.
• Juliette Binoche [05:15]: Explores Penelope's complex emotional landscape.
• Ralph Fiennes [07:29]: Describes the unspoken recognition between characters.
• Juliette Binoche [09:16]: Shares insights on the casting process and camaraderie.
• Ralph Fiennes [09:55]: Reflects on the creative realization of their on-screen partnership.

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Final Thoughts:

"The Return" episode of "Consider This" masterfully bridges ancient literature with modern storytelling, offering listeners an in-depth look at how classic narratives are reimagined in today's cinematic landscape. Through engaging dialogue with Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes, the episode not only promotes the film but also celebrates the enduring power of storytelling and the profound connections forged through artistic collaboration.

Transcript

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Here's a story for you. A warrior king has just washed up on a beach. He's been gone for 20 years. His wife, the queen, has been waiting, pining for his return. And this is all unfolding on the island of Ithaca. Yes, we are talking about the Odyssey, the epic poem by Homer.

[Juliette Binoche]

So many years.

[Ralph Fiennes]

Why would you still love the man I had become who couldn't return? Forgive me.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

That's a clip from the new film the Return, starring Juliette Binoche as Queen Penelope and Ralph Fiennes as King Odysseus. The two have been separated by war and chaos for so many years. When they finally come face to face in Ithaca, it's a reunion in more ways than one for Odysseus and Penelope, of course, but also for the actors who play them, because it has been it's been 28 years since Fiennes and Bhanush have shared the screen.

[Ralph Fiennes]

I'm still here.

[Juliette Binoche]

You'd better be.

[Ralph Fiennes]

Don't depend on it, will you? That little bit of air in my lungs. Each day gets less and less.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

The 1996 drama the English Patient. That was the last time Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche were co stars. Consider this an epic poem and an epic reunion. Come to the big screen. We talk with the stars of the Return about finding new meaning in an ancient homecoming story from npr, I'm Mary Louise Kelly.

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[Mary Louise Kelly]

It'S consider this from NPR. The new film the Return picks up at the end of Odysseus journey. He spent the last 10 years trying to get home to Ithaca. He's finally Back. No one knows who he is. And at least for now, he wants to keep it that way. Because the Ithaca he left is not the Ithaca he's coming back to.

[Unnamed Character]

There is no king. He sailed the Troy years ago, took the best men with him. None of them came back.

[Ralph Fiennes]

Who do you serve now?

[Unnamed Character]

The queen Penelope and her son.

[Ralph Fiennes]

No man at her side.

[Unnamed Character]

All year they've been turning up for miles around waiting for her to choose.

[Ralph Fiennes]

Has she?

[Unnamed Character]

She's strong. Keeps them waiting for her husband to return.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche are the stars of the Return and they are both here with me now. Welcome.

[Juliette Binoche]

Hi.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Hi. We pick up at the end of Odysseus story after long years fighting the Trojan War. Long years trying to get home to Ithaca. Refines, give us a taste of what Odysseus has been through in those years.

[Ralph Fiennes]

He's been at war for 10 years initially, and then a further 10 years traveling, all kinds of adventures, meeting witches and monsters and all kinds of obstructions. And the wrath of Poseidon is the main reason why in Homer, Odysseus has not returned. In our film, you don't know that all gods and monsters are gone. But what the director, Alberto Pasolini, wanted to emphasize was the cost on his soul of being away for so long. Fighting, killing, probably committing terrible atrocities as a warrior at war and then ongoing. He's been with other women in his travels, but he's a sort of wreck of a person in our film when he. When he is washed up on the shore of Ithaca with all this sort of inner landscape of battle, war, adventure. Yes, you could say he's betrayed his wife, but I think he's just a man who's been lost for a long time.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Juliet, what has Penelope been doing during these years? We know she's been doing weaving. A whole lot of weaving, yes.

[Juliette Binoche]

But also trying to have a sense of sanity, being on her own as a queen and seeing, you know, the royalty going down so much because people are starving and the suitors around her trying to get the power and bringing up her son and expecting her husband to come back one day, but not knowing where he is. So there's a lot of anxiety in her as well as a lot of hope. And in this script, Penelope is somehow different. It's not just the waiting wife being a saint. She's a woman with feelings, with needs and fighting those, you know, feelings of anger and feelings of feeling abandoned. And so that was so interesting because it felt complex and it felt very modern. It's not simple It's. They're complex characters.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Let me take us to the moment when, after 20 years, Penelope finally comes face to face with Odysseus.

[Juliette Binoche]

Where have you been since you left Troy?

[Ralph Fiennes]

Traveling, drifting.

[Juliette Binoche]

Did you hear of my husband in your travels? He must be dead. The man who left would never have stayed away from his son, his wife, his people.

[Ralph Fiennes]

Perhaps she's afraid.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

And we're left wondering, does she recognize him? How could she not recognize him? Who does she think she's talking to?

[Juliette Binoche]

It's not very clear in the book, is it, whether she recognizes him or not. But I think, how could she not recognize him? They were married. She knows his voice. I'd like to leave it to the audience to decide. And Uberto, the director, has been really cautious in editing that scene in order to have the choice.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

I kept watching your eyes, Juliette Binoche, trying to figure out when were they gonna flash. And I would think, she's got it. She's there.

[Juliette Binoche]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's the art of the director and editor. To find the right place to, you know whether to cut it or not.

[Ralph Fiennes]

When I played it, I think I knew you had seen me. I knew it and I knew. She decides not to call him. She talks of him as, did my husband do this? Who is my husband? Have you seen my husband? But as we played it, I knew she had seen me. But neither of us are prepared to self identify to each other. There's a sort of weird thing holding us back because the distance, I thought that was a wonderful piece of writing, that we are held back. I can't say it's me. And she can't say, I know it's you.

[Juliette Binoche]

Yeah, she can't say, but yet she's furious. Yeah, that he's not able to come and say, here I am. Yeah, I'm back. I want to save you. I'm going to protect you. We're going to have a plan. And that's why when she decides to go for the bow, the challenge is so big, she's going to challenge everyone. It's like, okay, you playing that game? We're gonna play that game now.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Well, to explain the bow. The bow is this giant bow that only Odysseus in his youth could string and shoot through. What is it? 12 arrowheads, 12 axe heads. Axe heads. The perfect shot. And as the audience, I was left wondering, can he do it? This is a wreck of a man. How is this one gonna end? We've talked about how Odysseus and Penelope were separated for 20 years. In a way, the two of you, Juliette Binoche and Ralph, find you were separated for longer than that. It has been 28 years since we have gotten to see you both on screen together, 28 years since the English Patient came out in 1996. What has this reunion been like?

[Juliette Binoche]

A joy.

[Ralph Fiennes]

Well, we've been friends over the years, but when this project brought us together, I think we both recognized there was a kind of it felt inevitable.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Well, and you said that in a passive way, like when the film brought you together. But I was reading Raphael, you were involved first and you thought, I know who Penelope needs to be, who needs to play her.

[Ralph Fiennes]

Well, actually, yes, I was involved.

[Juliette Binoche]

Don't say no. Please say yes. It was your idea.

[Ralph Fiennes]

It was.

[Juliette Binoche]

He's always saying that. It's Hubert, our director, had the idea, which makes me really feel bad. I'm teasing you. And now are you taking it personally?

[Ralph Fiennes]

Come on, Rafe, raise it. Sometimes you can't see the thing that's in front of you, and that's just human blindness. So I couldn't see that Juliet Binoche had to play Penelope with me. That was a door opened, a crack in a window by our director. But when the shaft of light carried her name hit me. I went, yes, yes.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Well, it was the right call. Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, this has been a great pleasure. Thank you both so much.

[Juliette Binoche]

Thank you for having us.

[Ralph Fiennes]

Thank you. Thank you very much.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

They are back together, as you just heard, starring in the new movie the Return. This episode was produced by Katherine Fink. It was edited by Sarah Handel and Jeanette Woods. Our executive producer is Sami Unigan. Thank you to our Consider this plus listeners who support the work of NPR journalists and who help to keep public radio strong supporters also hear every episode without messages from sponsors. You can learn more at/npcnpr.org It's Consider this from NPR. I'm Mary Louise Kelly.

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[Mary Louise Kelly]

On the spectrum of brat to demure.

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[Juliette Binoche]

I was like, wow, you literally just died and came back and the first thing you asked is, do you need any money?

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