Chris Nolan criticised for filming “Odyssey” in a conflicted area in Western Sahara
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director Christopher Nolan“The upcoming film, “The Odyssey,” is already facing a backlash that is allegedly filmed on indigenous lands under the “military occupation” of the Western Sahara.
After filming was concluded in the area last week, the Saharawi government expressed “deep concern and strong digging” about the follow-up project of Director Oppenheimer being filmed in Dakura city.
“The Ministry has firmly expressed its strong condemnation and explicit rejection of the decision to select occupied territory as the site of major international film production. I read that statement.
The statement stated, “This act constitutes the unethical exploitation of art and films to whitewash images of the colonial situation, which are filled daily with dangerous forms of cultural normalization with occupation and the immoral resistance of those struggling for freedom and dignity.”
Director Christopher Nolan was called to film his latest film, The Odyssey, in the contested portion of Western Sahara. (Pascal le segretain/getty images)
Similarly, the Western Sahara International Film Festival (Fisahara) Please make a statement Encourage Nolan and universal photography to “stop filming at Dakula and be in solidarity with the Saharawi people who have been under military occupation for 50 years and are routinely imprisoned and tortured for peaceful struggles for self-determination.”
“By filming a portion of the “Odyssey” in occupied territory classified as “journalist deserts” by reporters without borders, Nolan and his team are probably unconsciously contributing to the crackdown on the people of Moroccan Saharawi and the efforts of the Moroccan regime, who was commonly referred to as commanders of the West.
Javier Bardem, an actor who previously appeared in Fisahara, shared a statement from the festival On his Instagram account last week.
The Western Sahara is a disputed territory. (Jorge Guerrero/AFP via Getty Images)
“For 50 years, Morocco has occupied the western Sahara and expelled the Saharawi people from the city. Dakula has been converted into tourist spots by the Moroccan occupyers and is now converted to film sets, with the aim of always erasing the identity of the Sariwi city. #freesaharanow,” wrote Bardem.
Meanwhile, Leda Bengelone, a Moroccan cinema cinema centre, a publicly managed film agency in Moroccan, is called the film “Very Important” as the first major Hollywood project to film in the region.
“Dakra will actually provide extraordinary opportunities for foreign productions in the future, finding human resources there and a very different geography from the rest of Morocco,” Benjellone said. In the interview. “Today, Morocco’s strength lies in the excellent work of local executive production companies, which are extremely sensitive to demand and are also very efficient.”
Fox News Digital Representatives of Universal Pictures and Nolan were contacted for comments.
Nolan’s “Odyssey” has been filmed in several countries, including Morocco, Italy and Greece. (Michael Tran/AFP via Getty Images)
“The Odyssey” was filmed in the area for at least four days.Non-self-distant territory“By the United Nations, 70% of the land is currently managed by Morocco, but Morocco is proposing a plan to grant the country autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty.
President Donald Trump has approved his claims on Morocco’s land and approved the plan In a statement During his first term in 2020.
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“The Odyssey” is scheduled to be released on July 17, 2026 and will be adapted Homer’s ancient Greek epic With the same name. It has also been filmed in Morocco, Greece, Italy, Scotland and Iceland, and is expected to continue filming in Ireland and the UK.