Christopher Nolan faced a backlash to film Odissi in the disputed Western Sahara
Christopher Nolan is filming parts of Odissi in the disputed Western Sahara region. This decision has criticized the occupation and repression of the ongoing Morocco of Saharavi people.
In short
- Christopher Nolan is currently doing the film ‘The Odissi’ in the disputed Western Sahara
- Western Sahara 70% is occupied home for Morocco and Saharavi people
- Fishra Festival urged Nolan to stop filming in the occupied area
Director Christopher Nolan has criticized for filming parts of his upcoming epic-Natak ‘The Odissi’ in Western Sahara. They have created controversy as 70% of the region occupies Morocco.
Nolan has shot the film in Dakla city, which has been considered the capital of the administrative area of Morocco, Dakhla-Od Ed-Dahab, as told by DiversityWestern Sahara is considered a disputed region that is classified by the United Nations as “non-late-gunning”. The director of ‘The Odyssey’ has come under investigation as the region is home to indigenous sahravi people. The last remaining African colonial state to attain Western Sahara independence, Morocco is still claiming control of the majority of its land.
As Diversity Report, Western Sahara International Film Festival (aka Fisahara) – which takes place in Saharavi refugee camps in Algeria – made a statement that requested Nolan to stop production in the area. The festival’s statement said, “Dakhala is not just a beautiful place with cinematic sand dunes. First and foremost, it is a capture and a military city, whose indigenous saharavi population is subject to brutal repression by Morocco occupied forces.”
The statement further stated that production, “Film should stop filming and stand in solidarity with Saharavi people who have been in military occupation for 50 years and who are regularly imprisoned and tortured for their peaceful struggle for self -determination.”
The director of the festival, Mara Carin further said, “Filming the part of ‘The Odyssey’ in an occupied area is classified as a ‘journalism desert’ classified as a ‘desert of journalism’, Naul and his team, perhaps unknowingly, are contributing to the efforts of Moroccon for Fuling and Moroccon’s Daman. High-profile film whose indigenous people are unable to make their own films about their stories, Nolan and his team will be frightened. “
Actor Xavier Bardem, who appeared in Fishra in the past, posted a festival statement on his Instagram handle. His caption states, “For 50 years, Morocco has captured Western Sahara, expelting Saharavi from their cities. Dakhla is one of them, which has been converted into a tourist destination by Morocco occupiers and now a film set, always with the purpose of eradicating the city’s safety identity.
The Ministry of Culture of the Polisario Front, the Nationalist Sahravi Group demanded the abolition of occupation through armed resistance, also issued a statement. It read, “This act is a dangerous form of cultural generalization with occupation, and an immoral exploitation of art and cinema is to whitewash the image of a colonial status that is still imposed by force and meets daily with strong resistance of people struggling for freedom and dignity.”
However, Redda Benzeloun of Moroccan’s Cinematographic Center told a local outlet, Media24, Production filming in Dakhla last week is “very important.” He argued that this is the first major Hollywood production to do so. “Dakhla will actually provide extraordinary opportunities for the future foreign presentations that will find geography very different from other areas of Morocco,” he said.
‘The Odissi’ is adapted to the ancient Greek epic poetry of Homer, which is also shot in Morocco, Greece and Italy. It includes Matt Demon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zandya and other lead roles.
The film is set for a dramatic release on July 17, 2026.