Latest news with #Dakhla
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' movie under fire for filming on 'occupied' Indigenous land
Director Christopher Nolan's upcoming movie "The Odyssey" is already facing backlash for allegedly filming on indigenous land under "military occupation" in the Western Sahara. After the picture wrapped up shooting in the area last week, the Sahrawi Government expressed "deep concern and strong indignation" that the "Oppenheimer" director's follow-up project was filming in the city of Dakhla, a location it claims is currently under "illegal military occupation by the Kingdom of Morocco." "The Ministry firmly expresses its strong condemnation and unequivocal rejection of the decision to select an occupied territory as the location for a major international film production, without any form of consultation or coordination with the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people, internationally recognized as the Polisario Front," its statement read. The statement continued, "This act constitutes a dangerous form of cultural normalization with the occupation, and an unethical exploitation of art and cinema to whitewash the image of a colonial situation that is still imposed by force and met daily with the steadfast resistance of a people struggling for freedom and dignity." James Cameron Slams 'Oppenheimer' Avoiding Aftermath Of Atomic Bombings On Japan As 'Moral Cop-out' The Western Sahara International Film Festival (FiSahara) similarly put out a statement urging Nolan and Universal Pictures to "stop filming in Dakhla and stand in solidarity with the Sahrawi people who have been under military occupation for 50 years and who are routinely imprisoned and tortured for their peaceful struggle for self-determination." Read On The Fox News App "By filming part of 'The Odyssey' in an occupied territory classified as a 'journalistic desert' by Reporters Without Borders, Nolan and his team, perhaps unknowingly and unintentionally, are contributing to Morocco's repression of the Sahrawi people and to the Moroccan regime's efforts to normalize its occupation of Western Sahara," María Carrión, the festival's executive director, said. Actor Javier Bardem, who has appeared in FiSahara before, shared the festival's statement on his Instagram account last week. "For 50 years, Morocco has occupied Western Sahara, expelling the Sahrawi people from their cities. Dakhla is one of them, converted by the Moroccan occupiers into a tourist destination and now a film set, always with the aim of erasing the Sahrawi identity of the city. Another illegal occupation, another repression against a people, the Sahrawi, unjustly plundered with the approval of Western governments, including the Spanish. #FreeSaharaNow," Bardem wrote. Meanwhile, Reda Benjelloun of the Moroccan Cinematographic Center, a public administrative film agency in Morocco, called the film "extremely important" as the first major Hollywood project to shoot in the area. 'Oppenheimer' Director Christopher Nolan Says Ai In Film Carries 'Responsibilities' Like Atomic Bomb Creation "Dakhla will indeed offer extraordinary opportunities in the future to foreign productions which will find human resources there as well as a geography very different from other regions of Morocco," Benjelloun said in an interview. "Today, Morocco's strength lies in being very responsive to demand and also having very efficient local executive production companies that do a great job." Fox News Digital reached out to Universal Pictures and a representative for Nolan for comment. "The Odyssey" spent at least four days filming in the area which has been classified as a "non-self-governing territory" by the United Nations. Seventy percent of the land is currently controlled by Morocco, though Morocco has proposed a plan to give the country autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty. President Donald Trump recognized Morocco's claim to the land and endorsed its plan in a statement during his first term in 2020. "The Odyssey" is set to be released on July 17, 2026, and adapts Homer's ancient Greek epic poem of the same name. It has also filmed in Morocco, Greece, Italy, Scotland and Iceland and is expected to continue filming in Ireland and the article source: Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' movie under fire for filming on 'occupied' Indigenous land Solve the daily Crossword
Fox News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' movie under fire for filming on 'occupied' Indigenous land
Director Christopher Nolan's upcoming movie "The Odyssey" is already facing backlash for allegedly filming on indigenous land under "military occupation" in the Western Sahara. After the picture wrapped up shooting in the area last week, the Sahrawi Government expressed "deep concern and strong indignation" that the "Oppenheimer" director's follow-up project was filming in the city of Dakhla, a location it claims is currently under "illegal military occupation by the Kingdom of Morocco." "The Ministry firmly expresses its strong condemnation and unequivocal rejection of the decision to select an occupied territory as the location for a major international film production, without any form of consultation or coordination with the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people, internationally recognized as the Polisario Front," its statement read. The statement continued, "This act constitutes a dangerous form of cultural normalization with the occupation, and an unethical exploitation of art and cinema to whitewash the image of a colonial situation that is still imposed by force and met daily with the steadfast resistance of a people struggling for freedom and dignity." The Western Sahara International Film Festival (FiSahara) similarly put out a statement urging Nolan and Universal Pictures to "stop filming in Dakhla and stand in solidarity with the Sahrawi people who have been under military occupation for 50 years and who are routinely imprisoned and tortured for their peaceful struggle for self-determination." "By filming part of 'The Odyssey' in an occupied territory classified as a 'journalistic desert' by Reporters Without Borders, Nolan and his team, perhaps unknowingly and unintentionally, are contributing to Morocco's repression of the Sahrawi people and to the Moroccan regime's efforts to normalize its occupation of Western Sahara," María Carrión, the festival's executive director, said. Actor Javier Bardem, who has appeared in FiSahara before, shared the festival's statement on his Instagram account last week. "For 50 years, Morocco has occupied Western Sahara, expelling the Sahrawi people from their cities. Dakhla is one of them, converted by the Moroccan occupiers into a tourist destination and now a film set, always with the aim of erasing the Sahrawi identity of the city. Another illegal occupation, another repression against a people, the Sahrawi, unjustly plundered with the approval of Western governments, including the Spanish. #FreeSaharaNow," Bardem wrote. Meanwhile, Reda Benjelloun of the Moroccan Cinematographic Center, a public administrative film agency in Morocco, called the film "extremely important" as the first major Hollywood project to shoot in the area. "Dakhla will indeed offer extraordinary opportunities in the future to foreign productions which will find human resources there as well as a geography very different from other regions of Morocco," Benjelloun said in an interview. "Today, Morocco's strength lies in being very responsive to demand and also having very efficient local executive production companies that do a great job." Fox News Digital reached out to Universal Pictures and a representative for Nolan for comment. "The Odyssey" spent at least four days filming in the area which has been classified as a "non-self-governing territory" by the United Nations. Seventy percent of the land is currently controlled by Morocco, though Morocco has proposed a plan to give the country autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty. President Donald Trump recognized Morocco's claim to the land and endorsed its plan in a statement during his first term in 2020. "The Odyssey" is set to be released on July 17, 2026, and adapts Homer's ancient Greek epic poem of the same name. It has also filmed in Morocco, Greece, Italy, Scotland and Iceland and is expected to continue filming in Ireland and the UK.
Geek Tyrant
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Christopher Nolan Under Fire for Filming THE ODYSSEY in Controversial Western Sahara Region — GeekTyrant
Christopher Nolan, known for crafting cinematic epics like Inception and Oppenheimer , is now at the center of an unexpected controversy. The acclaimed director has come under fire for filming scenes from Universal's upcoming adaptation of The Odyssey in the disputed region of Western Sahara, specifically near the city of Dakhla, which is an area under Moroccan occupation but recognized by the United Nations as a 'non-self-governing territory.' This part of North Africa is visually stunning with its windswept dunes, but it also carries heavy geopolitical weight. Western Sahara has been under dispute since the 1970s, and while countries like the U.S. and UK have supported Morocco's claim in recent years, the area is still widely considered occupied territory. Yet, despite its unresolved status, it has quietly become a go-to location for major productions, including The Wheel of Time . Now, Nolan's decision to shoot there has triggered backlash, particularly from the Western Sahara International Film Festival (FiSahara), which operates out of Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria. In a strong statement, the organization urged the filmmaker and his crew to cease all production in Dakhla immediately. 'Dakhla is not just a beautiful location with cinematic sand dunes. Primarily, it is an occupied, militarised city whose indigenous Sahrawi population is subject to brutal repression by occupying Moroccan forces,' the festival stated. 'By filming part of The Odyssey in an occupied territory billed as a 'news black hole' by Reporters Without Borders, Nolan and his team, perhaps unknowingly and unwillingly, are contributing to the repression of the Sahrawi people by Morocco.' FiSahara expressed concern that the production might inadvertently bolster Morocco's efforts to claim and culturally reshape the territory. 'We are sure that were they to understand the full implications of filming such a high-profile film in a territory whose indigenous peoples are unable to make their own films about their stories under occupation, Nolan and his team would be horrified,' the statement continued. The organization went further, accusing Moroccan authorities of using the region for political image-building through cinema. 'Morocco routinely touts Sahrawi cultural expressions as uniquely Moroccan. They created a film festival in Dakhla to counter ours, and produce high-budget films that portray Western Sahara as part of Morocco. However, Sahrawis trying to make films about their lives are persecuted and must work clandestinely and at great risk to themselves and their families.' Actor Javier Bardem, a longtime supporter of Sahrawi causes, amplified the statement by posting it publicly and denouncing the Moroccan regime's attempts to rebrand Dakhla. He called out the transformation of the city 'by the Moroccan occupiers into a tourist destination and now a film set, always with the aim of erasing the Sahrawi identity of the city.' Universal has yet to respond to the controversy. The star-studded The Odyssey boasts a massive ensemble cast including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Benny Safdie, Jon Bernthal, Himesh Patel, Elliott Page, Bill Irwin, Samantha Morton, Jesse Garcia, Will Yun Lee, and Corey Hawkins. The epic retelling of Homer's poem will follow Damon's Odysseus as he struggles to return home from the Trojan War, facing mythological beasts and divine trials, while Holland's Telemachus and Penelope await his return in Ithaca. The film, which has been shooting in Morocco, Italy, Ireland, and Scotland, is slated for an IMAX release on July 17, 2026. As the call to halt production gains traction, it remains to be seen how Nolan and Universal will respond to the growing international concern surrounding the shoot in Western Sahara.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan is accused of 'enabling colonialism' as new film shot in war-torn Western Sahara
Christopher Nolan has been accused of 'enabling colonialism' after filming in a highly disputed part of Western Sahara. The Dark Knight director, 54, has been shooting scenes for his new movie The Odyssey in the disputed area of Dakhla. Filming for his recreation of Homer's epic poem, starring Matt Damon, Charlize Theron and Lupita Nyong'o, took place this month with actors snapped on set. Other scenes have also been shot in the Moroccan cities of Essaouira, Marrakesh and Ouarzazate, as well as Greece and Scotland, with other members of the star-studded cast seen on set, including Tom Holland and Zendaya. However, it was the crews time in the small city of Dakhla that angered the Polisario Front, a liberation movement which claims to represent its indigenous inhabitants. Western Sahara has been occupied by Morocco since the 1970s when Spain gave up control of the territory, but the Polisario Front continue to seek independence for the region. Nolan's decision to film in Dakhla has prompted the Polisario Front to accuse him of 'a clear violation of international law and ethical standards governing cultural and artistic work'. Organisers of the Sahara International Film Festival, which takes place in Polisario-controlled Sahrawi camps in Algeria, told The Times that Dakhla was 'not just a beautiful location with cinematic sand dunes'. They added: 'Primarily, it is an occupied, militarised city whose indigenous Sahrawi population is subject to brutal repression by occupying Moroccan forces.' Festival Director María Carrión said: 'By filming part of The Odyssey in an occupied territory billed as a "news black hole" by Reporters without Borders, Nolan and his team, perhaps unknowingly and unwillingly, are contributing to the repression of the Sahrawi people by Morocco, and to the Moroccan regime's efforts to normalise its occupation of Western Sahara. 'We are sure that were they to understand the full implications of filming such a high-profile film in a territory whose indigenous peoples are unable to make their own films about their stories under occupation, Nolan and his team would be horrified.' The UN and most countries do not recognise Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara, viewing it as a disputed territory. Meanwhile, Britain last week backed Morocco's claim on the mostly desert land having refused to take a side for decades. Morocco also previously won the backing of the US, France, Spain and Portugal for its occupation. In March, film crews were also spotted in the Moroccan village of Aït Benhaddou as cast members and extras flooded the area, including Christopher Nolan himself. The ancient Moroccan region is no stranger to A-listers and has also featured in the likes of Gladiator II and Game Of Thrones. On December 26, The InSneider reported that The Odyssey will have a $250M budget, making it 'the most expensive film' of 54-year-old Nolan's career. Oscar winner Anne Hathaway is rumored to be playing Odysseus' wife, Queen of Ithica Penelope, whom he's eager to reunite with following a perilous journey back home. Rumour has it that Tom Holland - whose famous fiancée Zendaya also plays a mystery role - will take on the part of Odysseus' son Telemachus. And Oscar winner Charlize Theron is said to be playing the witch goddess Circe in the 3K-year-old fantastical tale full of sirens and a cyclops. The cast of high-profile actors also includes Robert Pattinson, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, Samantha Morton, Will Yun Lee, and Mia Goth. The Odyssey was last memorably adapted for the silver screen by the Coen Brothers in their 2000 satirical musical O Brother, Where Art Thou? starring George Clooney.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Christopher Nolan criticised for filming in occupied Western Sahara city
The organisers of the Western Sahara international film festival (FiSahara) have criticised Christopher Nolan for shooting part of his adaptation of the Odyssey in a Western Saharan city that has been under Moroccan occupation for 50 years, warning the move could serve to normalise decades of repression. The British-American film-maker's take on Homer's epic, which stars Matt Damon, Charlize Theron, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o and Anne Hathaway, is due to be released on 17 July 2026. According to the Hollywood studio Universal, which is backing the project, the film will be 'a mythic action epic shot across the world' made 'using brand new Imax film technology'. But the decision to film in the Western Saharan coastal city of Dakhla has provoked fierce criticism from Sahrawi activists and those who were forced to live under occupation or to go into exile after Morocco annexed the country following the withdrawal of its former colonial power, Spain, in 1976. The UN classifies Western Sahara as a 'non-self-governing territory'. In a report last year, the UN secretary-general noted that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) had not been granted access to the territory since 2015, adding that OHCHR 'continued to receive allegations relating to human rights violations, including intimidation, surveillance and discrimination against Sahrawi individuals particularly when advocating for self-determination'. In its most recent country report, Amnesty International said that the 'authorities continued to restrict dissent and the rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly in Western Sahara'. Reporters Without Borders has described Western Sahara as a 'desert for journalists' and said that 'torture, arrests, physical abuse, persecution, intimidation, harassment, slander, defamation, technological sabotage, and lengthy prison sentences are daily fare for Sahrawi journalists'. Last month the UK suggested it supported a proposal for Western Sahara to remain under Rabat's sovereignty but with a degree of self-rule. FiSahara's organisers say the recent presence of Nolan's high-profile cast and crew in Dakhla will help whitewash the Moroccan occupation and normalise the repression. The festival's directors said that while Dakhla was 'a beautiful location with cinematic sand dunes', it was, 'first and foremost … an occupied and militarised city whose indigenous Sahrawi population is subjected to brutal repression' by Moroccan occupation forces. 'By filming part of The Odyssey in an occupied territory … Nolan and his team, perhaps unknowingly and unwittingly, are contributing to Morocco's repression of the Sahrawi people and to the Moroccan regime's efforts to normalise its occupation of Western Sahara,' said María Carrión, the festival's executive director. 'We are sure that if they understood the full implications of filming a high-profile film in a territory whose Indigenous peoples cannot make their own films about their stories under occupation, Nolan and his team would be horrified.' FiSahara said it was calling on Nolan and his crew and cast to 'stand in solidarity with the Sahrawi people who have been under military occupation for 50 years and who are routinely imprisoned and tortured for their peaceful struggle for self-determination'. Carrión said Morocco was keen to control how its occupation was perceived abroad, and used tourism and culture to project a distorted view of life in Western Sahara. 'Morocco only allows entry into occupied Western Sahara to those who fit its strategy of selling its occupation to the outside world,' she said. 'Tourists who go to Moroccan-built and -owned resorts to practise kitesurfing, companies willing to participate in its plundering of natural resources, journalists willing to toe its line, and high-profile visitors like Nolan and his team who help Morocco sell the narrative that Western Sahara is part of Morocco and that the Sahrawis are content to live under its rule are given the red carpet treatment.' But she said Amnesty International, the UN commissioner for human rights, and 'the hundreds of journalists and observers who have been barred or deported from the territory' would tell 'a very different story'. The Guardian has contacted Nolan's representatives for a response, but the director has yet to comment. FiSahara, which was founded in 2004, is held in Sahrawi refugee camps in the Algerian desert. Labelled 'the Cannes of the desert', it aims to use film to 'entertain, convey knowledge and empower refugees from the Western Sahara'.
