Nolan's The Odyssey Shoot in Dakhla Sparks Backlash Over 50-Year Moroccan Occupation
Updated
Updated · Jacobin magazine · Jul 16
Nolan's The Odyssey Shoot in Dakhla Sparks Backlash Over 50-Year Moroccan Occupation
2 articles · Updated · Jacobin magazine · Jul 16
Summary
A four-day shoot for Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey in Dakhla has drawn condemnation for filming in Western Sahara with Moroccan approval and subsidies, which critics say legitimizes the occupation.
An open letter signed by Javier Bardem, Pedro Almodóvar and Paul Laverty said the production lacked Sahrawi consent, while Sahrawi activists contrasted Nolan's access with their own repression and exile.
Western Sahara has been under Moroccan control since 1975, with about 40% of Sahrawis fleeing at the time and 173,000 still living in refugee camps in Algeria.
Morocco is using Dakhla's development to entrench control, including a €1.3 billion port due by 2028, tourism expansion and efforts to attract international productions.
The dispute reaches beyond one film: EU court rulings say Western Sahara is legally distinct from Morocco, raising wider questions for companies operating in the territory.
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.