The runaway success of the film "Odyssey" has swept into bookstores, with the movie surpassing 6 million admissions just 17 days after its domestic opening.
Interest in Homer's original epic texts exploded alongside the film's release, according to the bookselling industry Saturday.
At Kyobo Book Centre, "Odysseia" translated by Park Moon-jae and published by Hyundai Jiseong climbed to No. 5 on the overall bestseller list this week, while a recently released translation by Kim Heon, published by Eulyoo Publishing, jumped 51 spots from last week to land at No. 15. A third translation by Cheon Byeong-hui, published by Sup, rose 27 places to No. 48. With multiple publishers offering different translations, several related titles also appeared on the humanities, history and culture bestseller charts.
At YES24, "Odysseia" in the Park Moon-jae translation ranked No. 2 on the overall bestseller list this week, while the Kim Heon translation came in at No. 9. A version written by Nicola Cinquetti and translated by Lee Seung-su, published by Maeumieum, also entered the chart at No. 14.
Comparing the 15 days before the film's opening (July 21–Aug. 4) with the 15 days after (Aug. 5–19), YES24 sales data showed the Park Moon-jae translation surged 468.1 percent and the Cinquetti-Lee translation jumped 471.8 percent.
Many readers also extended their interest to Homer's other epic, "Iliad," which depicts the Trojan War that serves as the backdrop to the film.
The "Iliad and Odysseia" boxed set translated by Park Moon-jae and published by Hyundai Jiseong ranked No. 20 overall at YES24 and No. 94 at Kyobo Book Centre. The standalone "Iliad" in the same translation made a new entry at No. 197 at Kyobo Book Centre.
The enthusiasm surrounding "Odyssey" has also spread to Greek and Roman mythology more broadly. At Kyobo Book Centre, "Kim Heon's Greek and Roman Mythology" rose to No. 9 in the history and culture category, while "Hamilton's Mythology" climbed to No. 12 in the same category.
The wave reached children's comics as well. Choi Seol-hui's "My First Greek and Roman Mythology 14: The Return of Odysseus" entered the children's comics chart at No. 16, and readers seeking Hong Eun-young's "Greek and Roman Mythology" — out of print in physical form — turned to the e-book edition.
Directed by Christopher Nolan, "Odyssey" is based on Homer's epic and follows the hero Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, on his journey home after the Trojan War. The film has drawn wide audiences with its grand visuals and sound design, offering Nolan's own reinterpretation of Greek mythology.
The film was also shot entirely on IMAX film cameras — a first in cinema history — sparking fierce competition for IMAX theater tickets.
pink@heraldcorp.com
