Nolan Films The Odyssey in Western Sahara, Sparking 50-Year Occupation Backlash
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 16
Nolan Films The Odyssey in Western Sahara, Sparking 50-Year Occupation Backlash
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 16
Summary
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey shot scenes in Dakhla in occupied Western Sahara, drawing accusations from Sahrawi voices that the production exploited their land without consent.
The criticism centers on a stark disparity: Moroccan authorities allegedly welcome foreign film crews while Sahrawi film-makers and journalists risk prison for documenting life under Moroccan rule.
Western Sahara has been contested since 1975, and Sahrawi advocates say the film’s themes of displacement and return echo their own reality of families split between Algerian refugee camps and occupied territory.
A 2,700km Moroccan-built wall and the UN’s classification of Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory underpin claims that using the land’s cultural or physical resources without Indigenous consent helps legitimize the occupation.
Is Nolan’s film complicit in erasing the very people whose land provides the movie's 'exotic' backdrop?
Beyond ethics, what legal risks do studios face for filming on land considered illegally occupied under international law?
Hollywood in Occupied Western Sahara: The Global Backlash Against Christopher Nolan’s $250M Odyssey and Its Geopolitical Fallout
Overview
Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film, The Odyssey, has sparked major controversy due to its decision to film scenes in Dakhla, Western Sahara—a territory classified by the United Nations as non-self-governing. While the film is set for a high-profile IMAX release, its production has drawn criticism from the Sahrawi people, who argue that the movie’s glamour hides their ongoing struggle for self-determination. The controversy is fueled by ongoing human rights concerns in the region, including lack of UN access and reports of violations, turning what was meant to be a cinematic event into a focal point for international debate.